JP2020034616A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that reduces an amount of emission of UFPs to the outside of the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: developing means that stores an electrostatic charge image developer containing a toner for electrostatic charge image development including toner particles containing a mold release agent having a melting temperature of 60°C or more and 100°C or less, and develops an electrostatic charge image formed on a surface of an image holding body with the electrostatic charge image developer as a toner image; and fixing means 60 that fixes the toner image transferred to a surface of a recording medium K, the fixing means including a first rotating body 61, a second rotating body 62 that is arranged in contact with an outer face of the first rotating body to form an insertion area N between the first rotating body and second rotating body, and a collection member 74 that is provided on the periphery of an upstream side in a direction of travel of the recording medium with respect to the insertion area, collects particles, and contains polyphenylene sulfide.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In the formation of an image by electrophotography, for example, after charging the surface of an image carrier, an electrostatic image is formed on the surface of the image carrier in accordance with image information, and then the electrostatic image is developed using toner. The toner image is formed by developing with a developer, and the toner image is transferred and fixed on the surface of a recording medium.

  Here, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163873 describes a nip portion that forms a part of a transport path through which a recording medium is transported in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that fixes a toner transferred onto the recording medium by a fixing device. Forming a fixing member, an additional member disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the nip portion, a fine particle collecting space formed by at least the fixing member and the additional member, and a fine particle collecting space. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an air flow generating member that causes air to flow in a predetermined direction; and a filter member that collects fine particles contained in an air flow generated by the air flow generating member. Is disclosed.

  Patent Literature 2 discloses a fixing member that heats and fixes toner on a recording medium, a pressing member that is disposed to face the fixing member and presses the recording medium against the fixing member, A collecting member for collecting the volatile components of the toner heated by the fixing member and the pressing member in a conveying direction of the recording medium after passing through a nip portion formed between the fixing member and the pressing member. A fixing device provided with the collecting member. "

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163,199 discloses "a fixing device that heats toner transferred to a sheet and fixes the toner on the sheet, and a first path and a second path that branch air that is discharged from the fixing apparatus and then join them. Image forming apparatus comprising: an exhaust mechanism; first charging means for positively charging ultrafine particles passing through the first path; and second charging means for negatively charging ultrafine particles passing through the second path. Apparatus. "

JP-A-2006-134834 JP-A-2006-139161 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-138248

  A toner for developing an electrostatic image (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as toner) having toner particles containing a release agent having a low melting temperature (for example, a release agent having a melting temperature of 100 ° C. or lower) is used. When the toner image is formed by the fixing means and the toner image is fixed by the fixing means, the release agent is liable to vaporize. Particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a vaporized release agent (so-called UFP; sometimes referred to as “UPF” hereinafter) may tend to be generated on the upstream side of the sandwiching area of the fixing unit. I knew it. The generated particles may be discharged outside the image forming apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit for fixing a toner image transferred to a surface of a recording medium, wherein the fixing unit is disposed in contact with a first rotating body and an outer surface of the first rotating body. As a result, compared to a case where a fixing unit including only a second rotating body that forms a sandwiching region between the first rotating body and the fixing unit is applied, the release of the toner contained in the toner discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from an agent is suppressed.

  The above problem is solved by the following means.

<1>
An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the surface of the image holding member,
Electrostatic image forming means for forming an electrostatic image on the surface of the charged image carrier,
An electrostatic image developer containing a toner for developing an electrostatic image having toner particles containing a release agent having a melting temperature of 60 ° C. or more and 100 ° C. or less is accommodated, and the electrostatic image developer is used to form the image carrier. Developing means for developing the electrostatic charge image formed on the surface as a toner image,
Transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of the recording medium,
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium, wherein the fixing means is disposed in contact with the first rotating body and an outer surface of the first rotating body so as to be sandwiched between the first rotating body and the first rotating body. A second rotating body that forms a trapping region, and a fixing unit that is provided on the periphery of the recording medium in the traveling direction upstream of the sandwiching region, traps particles, and has a trapping member that includes polyphenylene sulfide.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

<2>
The image forming apparatus according to <1>, wherein the melting temperature of the release agent is from 60 ° C to 90 ° C.
<3>
The image forming apparatus according to <1> or <2>, wherein the release agent is paraffin wax.
<4>
The image forming apparatus according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the toner particles include a crystalline resin.
<5>
The image forming apparatus according to <4>, wherein the content of the crystalline resin is 3% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less based on the mass of the toner particles.
<6>
The image forming apparatus according to <4> or <5>, wherein the content of the crystalline resin is 5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less based on the mass of the toner particles.
<7>
The image forming apparatus according to <6>, wherein the toner for developing an electrostatic charge image has a toluene insoluble content of 25% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less.
<8>
The image forming apparatus according to any one of <1> to <7>, wherein the shape factor SF1 of the toner particles is 140 or more.

<9>
The image forming apparatus according to any one of <1> to <8>, wherein the collection member is a porous body.
<10>
<9>, wherein the ratio between the opening area and the total area of the collection member is 5 or more, the average pore diameter is 0.1 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less, and the thickness is 0.5 mm or more and 50 mm or less. Image forming device.
<11>
The image according to any one of <1> to <9>, further including a rectifying plate provided in contact with at least a part of the collecting member to rectify an air flow and guide the particles to the collecting member. Forming equipment.

<12>
The image forming apparatus according to any one of <1> to <11>, further including a first heating unit provided in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the first rotating body.
<13>
<12> The image forming apparatus according to <12>, further including a second heating unit provided in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body.
<14>
The image forming apparatus according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein the first rotator is a heating rotator.
<15>
The image forming apparatus according to any one of <12> to <14>, wherein a fixing set temperature of the first heating unit or the heating rotator is 100 ° C or more and 200 ° C or less.
<16>
The image forming apparatus according to <15>, wherein a set fixing temperature of the first heating unit or the heating rotator is 120 ° C or more and 200 ° C or less.

<17>
Any one of <1> to <16>, wherein a difference between a fixing set temperature of the first heating unit or the heating rotator and a melting temperature of the release agent in the toner particles is 30 ° C or more and 140 ° C or less. Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.

  According to the invention according to <1>, in the image forming apparatus including the fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium, the fixing unit includes the first rotating body and the outer surface of the first rotating body. As compared with a case where a fixing unit having only a second rotating body that forms a sandwiching area between the first rotating body and the fixing unit by being disposed in contact with the first rotating body, toner discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus is used. An image forming apparatus is provided in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained therein is suppressed.

According to the invention according to <2>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotator and the outer surface of the first rotator, thereby forming a sandwich region between the first rotator and the first rotator. Even when the melting temperature of the release agent contained in the toner particles is 60 ° C. or more and 90 ° C. or less, compared with the case where the fixing unit having only the rotating body is applied, the toner discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus is An image forming apparatus is provided in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained therein is suppressed.
According to the invention according to <2>,

  According to the invention according to <3>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotating body and the outer surface of the first rotating body to form the second rotating body that forms a sandwich region between the first rotating body and the first rotating body. Even if the release agent contained in the toner particles is paraffin wax, the release agent is released to the outside of the image forming apparatus and is derived from the release agent contained in the toner, as compared with the case where the fixing unit including only the rotating body is applied. An image forming apparatus is provided in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less is suppressed.

According to the inventions according to <4> to <6>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotating body and the outer surface of the first rotating body, so that the sandwiching area is formed between the first rotating body and the first rotating body. Compared to a case where a fixing unit having only the second rotating body to be formed is applied, toner particles containing a crystalline resin, and an electrostatic image developer having an electrostatic image developing toner including the toner particles are used. An image forming apparatus is provided in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed even when the developing unit is contained.
According to the invention according to <7>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotating body and the outer surface of the first rotating body to form the second rotating body that forms a sandwiching region between the first rotating body and the first rotating body. Compared to the case where a fixing unit having only a rotating body is applied, a developing unit containing an electrostatic image developer having an electrostatic image developing toner having a toluene insoluble content of 25% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less is used. Even when the image forming apparatus is provided, an image forming apparatus is provided in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed.
According to the invention according to <8>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotating body and the outer surface of the first rotating body to form the second rotating body that forms a sandwiching region between the first rotating body and the first rotating body. Compared to the case where the fixing unit including only the rotating body is applied, even when the developing unit containing the electrostatic image developer including the electrostatic image developing toner having the shape factor SF1 of 140 or more is provided. An image forming apparatus is provided in which the amount of particles of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed.

According to the invention according to <9>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotator and the outer surface of the first rotator, thereby forming the sandwiching region between the first rotator and the first rotator. An image forming apparatus in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed as compared with a case where a fixing unit including only a rotating body is applied. Thus, an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit provided with a porous collection member is provided.
According to the invention according to <10>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotator and the outer surface of the first rotator to form the second rotating body that forms a sandwiching region between the first rotator and the first rotator. An image forming apparatus in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed as compared with a case where a fixing unit including only a rotating body is applied. Fixing means provided with a collecting member having a ratio of an opening area to a total area of 5 or more, an average pore diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less, and a thickness of 0.5 mm or more and 50 mm or less. An image forming apparatus comprising:
According to the invention according to <11>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotating body and the outer surface of the first rotating body to form the second rotating body that forms a sandwiching region between the first rotating body and the first rotating body. An image forming apparatus in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed as compared with a case where a fixing unit including only a rotating body is applied. Thus, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit provided in contact with at least a part of the collecting member, and provided with a rectifying plate for rectifying an air flow and guiding the particles to the collecting member.

According to the inventions according to <12> and <13>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotating body and the outer surface of the first rotating body, so that a fixing region is formed between the first rotating body and the first rotating body. An image in which the amount of particles of 100 nm or less derived from the release agent contained in the toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed as compared with the case where the fixing unit including only the second rotating body to be formed is applied. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a fixing unit having a first heating unit provided in contact with an inner peripheral surface of a first rotating body; and an image forming apparatus provided in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body. An image forming apparatus having a fixing unit further provided with a second heating unit.
According to the invention according to <14>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotator and the outer surface of the first rotator, thereby forming the sandwiching region between the first rotator and the first rotator. An image forming apparatus in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed as compared with a case where a fixing unit including only a rotating body is applied. Thus, an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit in which the first rotating body is a heating rotating body is provided.
According to the inventions according to <15> and <16>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotator and the outer surface of the first rotator, thereby forming a sandwiching region between the first rotator and the first rotator. Even if the fixing temperature of the first heating unit or the heating rotator is 100 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less, compared with the case where the fixing unit having only the second rotating body to be formed is applied, Provided is an image forming apparatus in which the amount of emitted particles of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner is suppressed.

  According to the invention according to <17>, the fixing unit is disposed in contact with the first rotator and the outer surface of the first rotator, thereby forming the sandwiching region between the first rotator and the first rotator. The difference between the fixing temperature of the first heating unit or the fixing temperature of the heating rotator and the melting temperature of the release agent in the toner particles is 30 ° C. or more and 140 ° C., compared with the case where the fixing unit having only the rotator is applied. Provided is an image forming apparatus in which the amount of particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from a release agent contained in a toner and emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus is suppressed even when the temperature is lower than or equal to ° C.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a fixing unit included in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating another example of a fixing unit included in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating another example of a fixing unit included in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment which is an example of the present invention will be described in detail.

<Image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image carrier, a charging unit that charges a surface of the image carrier, an electrostatic image forming unit that forms an electrostatic image on the charged surface of the image carrier, Developing means for containing an electrostatic image developer, developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image with the electrostatic image developer, and forming the electrostatic image on the surface of the image carrier; A transfer unit that transfers the toner image to the surface of the recording medium; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium.
The electrostatic image developer contained in the developing unit includes an electrostatic image developing toner having toner particles containing a release agent having a melting temperature of 60 ° C. or more and 100 ° C. or less.
The fixing unit is a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium. The fixing unit is disposed in contact with an outer surface of the first rotator and the first rotator. A second rotating body that forms a sandwiching region between the recording medium and a collecting member that is provided on the periphery of the recording medium on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium and that captures particles and includes polyphenylene sulfide; have.
In the following description, a toner for developing an electrostatic image having toner particles containing a release agent having a melting temperature of 60 ° C. or more and 100 ° C. or less may be referred to as “specific toner”.

  In recent years, in response to the demand for energy saving, a technique of fixing toner at a low temperature has been adopted for the purpose of reducing power consumption when fixing a toner image. For example, in order to improve low-temperature fixability, the electrostatic image developer contained in the developing unit of the image forming apparatus includes a release agent having a low melting temperature (for example, a release agent having a melting temperature of 100 ° C. or lower). May be used in some cases. When an image is formed using a toner containing a release agent having a low melting temperature, and the toner image transferred to the recording paper is fixed by a fixing unit, the release agent contained in the toner image is applied to the recording paper. It is easy to vaporize with the contained water. The vaporized release agent is re-coagulated in the air, thereby generating particles (UFP; ultrafine particles) of 100 nm or less derived from the vaporized release agent. Then, the generated particles may be discharged outside the image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, in the fixing unit, the temperature decreases after the toner image is fixed, so that the temperature is higher on the upstream side than on the downstream side of the sandwiching region formed by the first rotator and the second rotator. . For this reason, it has been found that there is a tendency that UPF derived from the vaporized release agent is likely to be generated on the upstream side of the sandwiching region.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the collection member including polyphenylene sulfide is arranged in the peripheral portion near the upstream side of the sandwiched region formed by the first rotator and the second rotator. Have been. Since the collecting member is arranged at a position where the UPF is easily generated, the UPF derived from the vaporized release agent is collected by adsorbing to the collecting member. As a result, even when an image is formed using a toner in which a release agent having a low melting temperature is used for toner particles, such as a specific toner, particles having a size of 100 nm or less derived from the release agent contained in the toner are formed. It is thought that the discharge to the outside of the is suppressed.

Here, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus of a direct transfer system for directly transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to a recording medium; Intermediate transfer type device for primary transfer to the surface of the transfer member and secondary transfer of the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member to the surface of the recording medium; after transfer of the toner image and before charging, the surface of the image carrier A well-known image forming apparatus such as an apparatus provided with a static eliminator for irradiating static elimination light to the surface is applied.
In the case of an intermediate transfer type device, the transfer device includes, for example, an intermediate transfer body on which a toner image is transferred on the surface, and a primary transfer for primarily transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body to the surface of the intermediate transfer body. A configuration including a member and a secondary transfer member that secondary-transfers the toner image transferred on the surface of the intermediate transfer member onto the surface of the recording medium is applied.

  Note that, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, for example, a portion including at least the image holding member may have a cartridge structure (process cartridge) that is detachable from the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is, for example, an image forming apparatus of an intermediate transfer system generally called a tandem type, in which a plurality of toner images of each color component are formed by an electrophotographic system. Image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, and a primary transfer unit 10 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) the color component toner images formed by the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K to the intermediate transfer belt 15. A secondary transfer unit 20 for collectively transferring (secondarily transferring) the superimposed toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 15 to a sheet K serving as a recording medium; and fixing for fixing the secondary-transferred image onto the sheet K. And a device 60 (an example of a fixing unit). Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 40 that exchanges information with each device (each unit) and controls the operation of each device (each unit).
Note that a unit having the intermediate transfer belt 15, the primary transfer unit 10, and the secondary transfer unit 20 corresponds to an example of a transfer unit.

  Each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a photosensitive member 11 (an example of an image holding member) that rotates in the direction of arrow A as an example of an image holding member that holds a toner image formed on the surface. ).

  A charger 12 for charging the photoconductor 11 is provided around the photoconductor 11 as an example of a charging unit, and a laser exposure device that writes an electrostatic image on the photoconductor 11 as an example of an electrostatic image forming unit. 13 (an exposure beam is indicated by reference numeral Bm in the figure).

Around the photoreceptor 11, as an example of a developing unit, there is provided a developing device 14 that accommodates each color component toner and visualizes the electrostatic charge image on the photoreceptor 11 with the toner. A primary transfer roll 16 for transferring the respective color component toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 15 at the primary transfer unit 10 is provided.
Note that a specific toner is used as at least one of the above-described color component toners. In this embodiment, all the color component toners are preferably specific toners in terms of ensuring low-temperature fixability.

  Further, a photoreceptor cleaner 17 for removing residual toner on the photoreceptor 11 is provided around the photoreceptor 11, and a charger 12, a laser exposure unit 13, a developing unit 14, a primary transfer roll 16, and a photoreceptor cleaner Seventeen electrophotographic devices are sequentially arranged along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 11. These image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are arranged substantially linearly from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Have been.

  The intermediate transfer belt 15 is circulated (rotated) at various speeds in a direction B shown in FIG. The various rolls include a drive roll 31 that is driven by a motor (not shown) to rotate the intermediate transfer belt 15, and a support roll 32 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 15 that extends substantially linearly along the direction in which the photoconductors 11 are arranged. A tension applying roll 33 that functions as a correction roll that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 15 and suppresses the meandering of the intermediate transfer belt 15, a back roll 25 provided in the secondary transfer unit 20, and a residue on the intermediate transfer belt 15. It has a cleaning back roll 34 provided in a cleaning section for scraping off toner.

The primary transfer unit 10 includes a primary transfer roll 16 as an opposing member that is disposed to face the photoconductor 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween. The primary transfer roll 16 includes a core and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the core. The core is a cylindrical rod made of metal such as iron or SUS. The sponge layer is formed of a rubber blend of NBR, SBR and EPDM containing a conductive agent such as carbon black, and is a sponge-shaped cylindrical roll having a volume resistivity of ^107.5 Ωcm or more and ^108.5 Ωcm or less.

  The primary transfer roll 16 is pressed against the photoconductor 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween. Further, the primary transfer roll 16 has a voltage (primary polarity) opposite to the polarity (negative polarity; the same applies hereinafter) of the toner. (Transfer bias) is applied. As a result, the toner images on the respective photoconductors 11 are sequentially electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 15, and a superposed toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

  The secondary transfer unit 20 includes a back roll 25 and a secondary transfer roll 22 disposed on the toner image holding surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 15.

The back roll 25 is made of a tube of a blend rubber of EPDM and NBR in which the surface is dispersed with carbon, and the inside is made of EPDM rubber. Then, the surface resistivity is formed to be 10 ⁷ Ω / □ or more and 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □ or less, and the hardness is set to, for example, 70 ° (Asker C: manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd .; the same applies hereinafter). You. The back roll 25 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 and constitutes a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roll 22, and a metal power supply roll 26 to which a secondary transfer bias is stably applied is in contact therewith. ing.

On the other hand, the secondary transfer roll 22 is composed of a core and a sponge layer as an elastic layer fixed around the core. The core is a cylindrical rod made of metal such as iron or SUS. The sponge layer is formed of a rubber blend of NBR, SBR and EPDM containing a conductive agent such as carbon black, and is a sponge-shaped cylindrical roll having a volume resistivity of ^107.5 Ωcm or more and ^108.5 Ωcm or less.

  Then, the secondary transfer roll 22 is pressed against the rear roll 25 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween, and the secondary transfer roll 22 is further grounded to form a secondary transfer bias between the secondary transfer roll 22 and the rear roll 25. The toner image is secondarily transferred onto a sheet (an example of a recording medium) K conveyed to the transfer unit 20.

  On the downstream side of the secondary transfer section 20 of the intermediate transfer belt 15, an intermediate transfer belt that removes residual toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the secondary transfer and cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 A cleaner 35 is provided so as to be able to freely contact and separate.

  The intermediate transfer belt 15, the primary transfer unit 10 (primary transfer roll 16), and the secondary transfer unit 20 (secondary transfer roll 22) correspond to an example of a transfer unit.

  On the other hand, on the upstream side of the yellow image forming unit 1Y, a reference sensor (home position sensor) 42 for generating a reference signal serving as a reference for setting an image forming timing in each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K. It is arranged. An image density sensor 43 for adjusting image quality is provided downstream of the black image forming unit 1K. The reference sensor 42 recognizes a mark provided on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 and generates a reference signal. In response to an instruction from the control unit 40 based on the recognition of the reference signal, each of the image forming units 1Y, 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are configured to start image formation.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, as a transport unit that transports the paper K, the paper storage unit 50 that stores the paper K, and the paper K stacked in the paper storage unit 50 is taken out at a predetermined timing. Roll 51 for transporting the paper K fed by the paper feed roll 51, a transport guide 53 for feeding the paper K transported by the transport roll 52 to the secondary transfer unit 20, and secondary transfer The image forming apparatus includes a transport belt 55 that transports the sheet K transported after the secondary transfer by the roll 22 to the fixing device 60 (an example of a fixing unit), and a fixing entrance guide 56 that guides the sheet K to the fixing device 60.

  The control unit 40 is configured as a computer that controls the entire apparatus and performs various calculations. Specifically, for example, the control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing various programs, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area when executing the programs. ), A nonvolatile memory for storing various information, and an input / output interface (I / O) (all not shown). Each of the CPU, ROM, RAM, nonvolatile memory, and I / O is connected via a bus.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation display unit, an image processing unit, an image memory, a storage unit, a communication unit, and the like in addition to the control unit 40 (all are not shown). The operation display unit, the image processing unit, the image memory, the storage unit, and the communication unit are connected to the I / O of the control unit 40. The control unit 40 exchanges information with the operation display unit, the image processing unit, the image memory, the storage unit, and the communication unit to control each unit. The control unit 40 also controls the set fixing temperature.

Next, a basic image forming process of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, image data output from an image reading device (not shown), a personal computer (PC) not shown, or the like is subjected to image processing by an image processing device (not shown), and then the image forming unit 1Y , 1M, 1C, and 1K perform an image forming operation.

  The image processing apparatus performs image processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, various image editing such as frame erasing, color editing, and moving editing on the input reflectance data. Is done. The image data subjected to the image processing is converted into four color material gradation data of Y, M, C, and K, and output to the laser exposure unit 13.

  The laser exposure device 13 irradiates, for example, an exposure beam Bm emitted from a semiconductor laser to each of the photoconductors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K according to the input color material gradation data. . In each of the photoconductors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, after the surface is charged by the charger 12, the surface is scanned and exposed by the laser exposure device 13 to form an electrostatic image. The formed electrostatic image is developed by each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K as a toner image of each color of Y, M, C, and K.

  The toner images formed on the photoconductors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the primary transfer section 10 where each photoconductor 11 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 15. You. More specifically, in the primary transfer unit 10, a voltage (primary transfer bias) having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity (minus polarity) of the toner is applied to the base material of the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the primary transfer roll 16, and the toner image is formed. Are sequentially superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to perform primary transfer.

  After the toner image is sequentially primary-transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15, the intermediate transfer belt 15 moves and the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20. When the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20, the conveyance unit rotates the paper feed roll 51 in synchronization with the timing at which the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20, and moves the toner image from the paper storage unit 50 to the desired position. Paper K of a size is supplied. The paper K supplied by the paper feed roll 51 is transported by the transport roll 52, and reaches the secondary transfer unit 20 via the transport guide 53. Before reaching the secondary transfer section 20, the sheet K is temporarily stopped, and the alignment roller (not shown) is rotated in accordance with the movement timing of the intermediate transfer belt 15 holding the toner image. And the position of the toner image are aligned.

  In the secondary transfer unit 20, the secondary transfer roll 22 is pressed against the back roll 25 via the intermediate transfer belt 15. At this time, the sheet K conveyed in a timely manner is sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer roll 22. At this time, when a voltage (secondary transfer bias) having the same polarity as the charging polarity (minus polarity) of the toner is applied from the power supply roll 26, a transfer electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back roll 25. Is done. Then, the unfixed toner image held on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is collectively electrostatically transferred onto the sheet K in the secondary transfer unit 20 which is pressed by the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back roll 25. You.

  Thereafter, the sheet K on which the toner image has been electrostatically transferred is conveyed as it is while being separated from the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the secondary transfer roll 22, and is provided on the downstream side of the secondary transfer roll 22 in the sheet conveying direction. It is transported to the belt 55. The transport belt 55 transports the sheet K to the fixing device 60 in accordance with the optimal transport speed of the fixing device 60. The unfixed toner image on the sheet K conveyed to the fixing device 60 undergoes a fixing process by heat and pressure by the fixing device 60 and is fixed on the sheet K. Then, the sheet K on which the fixed image is formed is conveyed to a sheet discharge storage unit (not shown) provided in a discharge unit of the image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, after the transfer to the paper K is completed, the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is conveyed to the cleaning unit with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 15, and is cleaned by the cleaning back roll 34 and the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35. It is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 15.

[Fixing means]
The fixing device is an example of a fixing unit. That is, the fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator that is disposed in contact with an outer surface of the first rotator to form a nip region between the first rotator, and a nip region. This is also a collection member provided around the upstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium, and is provided with a collection member that collects particles and contains polyphenylene sulfide. The collection member may collect not only UFP but also UFP and suspended particles other than UFP.

(Fixing device according to first embodiment)
-1st Embodiment A-
The fixing device according to the first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, an example in which the first rotating body is a heating rotating body will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a fixing unit included in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, and illustrates an example of the fixing device according to the first embodiment A in the fixing unit. Note that items common to the first embodiment A and the first embodiment B are simply referred to as the first embodiment. Members having substantially the same functions as members of the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment A and B are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment includes, for example, a heating roll 61 (an example of a first rotating body and an example of a heating rotating body) that is driven to rotate, and a pressing belt 62 (a second rotating body). (An example of a body) and a pressing pad 64 (an example of a pressing member) that presses the heating roll 61 via a pressing belt 62.
The pressing pad 64 only needs to press the pressing belt 62 and the heating roll 61 relatively, for example. Therefore, the pressure belt 62 side may be pressed against the heating roll 61, and the heating roll 61 side may be pressed against the heating roll 61.

  A halogen lamp 66 (an example of a heating unit) is provided inside the heating roll 61. The heating means is not limited to a halogen lamp, and another heating member that generates heat may be used.

  On the other hand, on the surface of the heating roll 61, for example, a temperature-sensitive element 69 is arranged in contact. The lighting of the halogen lamp 66 is controlled based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensing element 69, and the surface temperature of the heating roll 61 is maintained at a target set temperature (for example, 150 ° C.).

  The heating roll 61 preferably has a set fixing temperature of 100 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less, and more preferably 120 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less, from the viewpoint of low-temperature fixability of the toner.

  The pressure belt 62 is rotatably supported by, for example, a pressing pad 64 and a belt travel guide 63 arranged inside. The pressing pad 64 presses the heating roll 61 in the sandwiching region N (nip portion).

The pressing pad 64 is disposed, for example, inside the pressing belt 62 in a state where the pressing pad 64 is pressed against the heating roll 61 via the pressing belt 62, and forms a sandwiching region N between the pressing pad 64 and the heating roll 61. I have.
The pressing pad 64 includes, for example, a front sandwiching member 64a for securing a wide sandwiching region N on the entrance side of the sandwiching region N, and a peeling sandwiching member 64b for imparting distortion to the heating roll 61. Are arranged on the exit side of the sandwiching region N.

In order to reduce the sliding resistance between the inner peripheral surface of the pressing belt 62 and the pressing pad 64, for example, a sheet-shaped sliding member is provided on the surfaces of the front sandwiching member 64 a and the peeling sandwiching member 64 b that contact the pressing belt 62. A member 68 is provided. The pressing pad 64 and the sliding member 68 are held by a metal holding member 65.
The sliding member 68 is provided, for example, so that its sliding surface is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62, and is involved in holding and supplying oil existing between the sliding member 68 and the pressure belt 62. .

  For example, a belt traveling guide 63 is attached to the holding member 65, and the pressing belt 62 is configured to rotate.

  The heating roll 61 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow S by, for example, a drive motor (not shown). Following this rotation, the pressure belt 62 rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow R opposite to the rotation direction of the heating roll 61. That is, for example, while the heating roll 61 rotates clockwise in FIG. 2, the pressing belt 62 rotates counterclockwise.

  Then, the sheet K (an example of a recording medium) having the unfixed toner image is guided to, for example, the fixing entrance guide 56 and conveyed to the sandwiching area N. Then, when the sheet K passes through the sandwiching area N, the toner image on the sheet K is fixed by pressure and heat acting on the sandwiching area N.

  In the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment, for example, a wide sandwiching region N is formed by the concave front sandwiching member 64a that follows the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 61, compared to a configuration without the front sandwiching member 64a. Secured.

  Further, in the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment, for example, by disposing the peeling sandwiching member 64b so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the heating roll 61, the distortion of the heating roll 61 in the exit region of the sandwiching region N is improved. Is configured to be locally large.

  By arranging the peeling and sandwiching member 64b in this way, for example, the paper K after fixing passes through a locally large distortion when passing through the peeling and sandwiching region. Are easily separated from the heating roll 61.

  As an auxiliary means for peeling, for example, a peeling member 70 is provided downstream of the sandwiching region N of the heating roll 61. For example, the peeling member 70 is held by the holding member 72 in a state where the peeling claw 71 approaches the heating roll 61 in a direction (counter direction) facing the rotation direction of the heating roll 61.

  In the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment A, a collecting member 74 is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium K from the sandwiched area N. The collecting member 74 is a member provided for collecting UFP. The collecting member 74 is formed from a material containing polyphenylene sulfide.

  The collecting member 74 has a plate-like shape, and is provided continuously in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the recording medium (that is, in the width direction of the recording medium). The cross section of the collection member 74 in the longitudinal direction (the surface cut in a direction parallel to the running direction of the recording medium) is a quadrangle. The collecting member 74 shown in FIG. 2 is provided continuously in the direction perpendicular to the running direction of the recording medium, but is not limited to this, and a plurality of collecting members may be provided intermittently. When the collecting member 74 is provided intermittently, it may be provided via a connecting member (not shown) connecting the plurality of collecting members 74. Further, the collecting members 74 may be provided in a single row in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the recording medium, or may be provided in a plurality of rows. Note that the collection member 74 may have a cartridge structure that is detachably attached to the fixing device 60.

  The periphery on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium K with respect to the sandwiching region N where the collecting member 74 is provided is a distance from the sandwiching region to the collecting member 74 and is a range in which particles including UFP can be collected. Is the distance to The position at which the collecting member 74 is arranged is such that the distance from the sandwiching area N to the closest collecting member 74, which is arranged on the image side with respect to the recording medium K, is 0 as a ratio to the diameter of the heating roll 61. It is preferable to arrange at a position that is not less than 1 and not more than 1.5. The same applies to the position where the collecting member 82 in the second embodiment described later is arranged. That is, the first heating roll 89 is preferably disposed at a position where the ratio to the diameter of the first heating roll 89 is 0.1 or more and 1.5 or less.

Here, the collecting member 74 will be described.
The collecting member 74 includes polyphenylene sulfide. The polyphenylene sulfide is preferably contained in an amount of 50% by mass or more, preferably 60% by mass or more, more preferably 70% by mass or more, more preferably 80% by mass or more, based on the total mass of the collecting member 74. preferable. The collecting member 74 may include 100% by mass of polyphenylene sulfide. The higher the content of polyphenylene sulfide, the more easily the UFP derived from the release agent contained in the toner is adsorbed, and the more easily the collection efficiency is improved. Thus, the amount of UFP released to the outside of the image forming apparatus is easily suppressed.

  The collection member 74 may be a porous body having pores or a dense body having no pores. The collection member 74 is preferably a porous body in that the collection efficiency of UFP is improved.

  When the collecting member 74 is a porous body, the ratio of the opening area to the total area of the collecting member (opening area / total area) is 5 or more in area ratio, and the average pore diameter is 0.1 μm or more. 0.0 μm or less, and the thickness is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 50 mm or less. When the collecting member 74 has such characteristics, UFP derived from the release agent contained in the toner is easily adsorbed, and the collecting efficiency is easily improved. In particular, it is preferable that the area ratio between the opening area and the total area of the surface of the trapping member 74 facing the sandwiching region N is in the above range, since the UFP trapping efficiency is improved. Then, the amount of UFP released to the outside of the image forming apparatus is easily suppressed.

  The area ratio between the opening area of the collection member 74 and the total area is preferably 7 or more, and more preferably 10 or more. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 100 or less. Further, it is preferable that the average pore diameter of the collecting member 74 is 0.3 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less. It is preferable that the thickness of the collecting member 74 is not less than 20 mm and not more than 50 mm.

  The measurement method of the area ratio between the opening area and the total area, and the measurement of the pore diameter and the thickness are as follows. It is measured with the Keyence company's ultra-depth color 3D shape measuring microscope VK-9500, the area of the opening is the opening area, the surface area obtained from the depth direction of the opening is the total area, and the circle equivalent diameter of the opening is the pore diameter The average thickness of the collection member is defined as the thickness.

-1st Embodiment B-
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a fixing unit included in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and illustrates an example of the fixing device according to the first embodiment B in the fixing unit. In the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment B, an aspect is shown in which a rectifying plate 76A and a rectifying plate 76B provided in contact with a part of the collection member 74 are provided. The rectifying plates 76A and 76B regulate the airflow around the upstream side of the recording medium in the traveling direction of the recording medium, and guide the particles including the UFP to the collection member.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment B has a collecting member 74 provided at the same position as the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment A shown in FIG. However, in the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment B, the collecting member 74, the rectifying plate 76A (an example of a rectifying plate) provided in contact with the surface of the collecting member 74 on the recording medium K side, and the collecting member 74 A rectifying plate 76B (another example of a rectifying plate) is provided in contact with the surface of the collecting member 74 on the heating roll 61 side. The current plate 76A is in contact with the surface of the collection member 74 on the recording medium K side, and is bent from the edge of the recording medium K side on the side of the sandwiching region N. The bent current plate 76A is provided in a direction extending toward the sandwiching region N. The current plate 76B is in contact with the surface on the heating roll 61 side, and extends from the edge on the heating roll 61 side toward the sandwiching region N from the edge on the heating region 61 side as it is. It is provided in. Note that the collecting member 74 including both the rectifying plate 76A and the rectifying plate 76B may have a cartridge structure detachable from the fixing device 60.

  In the vicinity of the sandwiching area N, the airflow colliding with the sandwiching area N flows in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the heating roll 61 and the pressure belt 62, and thus the UFP is diffused by this airflow. Therefore, by providing the rectifying plate in contact with the collecting member 74, the airflow is adjusted, and the UFP is easily guided to the collecting member 74, so that the UFP collecting efficiency is easily improved. Thus, the amount of UFP released to the outside of the image forming apparatus is easily suppressed.

  The shape of the current plate is not limited to the shapes of the current plates 76A and 76B shown in FIG. The shape, angle, and the like of the current plate may be such that the UFP can be efficiently collected, such as the position where the collection member 74 is provided. The rectifying plate may be provided on at least a part of the collecting member 74. For example, a rectifying plate may be provided in which a surface facing the sandwiching region N of the collecting member 74 is opened and all the other surfaces are in contact. Good. A rectifying plate provided in contact with only the surface of the collecting member 74 on the recording medium K side may be used, or a rectifying plate provided in contact with the surface of the collecting member 74 on the side of the heating roll 61 may be used. Furthermore, a rectifying plate provided in contact with the edge of the trapping member 74 on the side of the recording medium K on the side of the recording medium K may be provided, and a rectifying plate provided on the surface of the trapping member 74 on the side of the heating roll 61 may be used. A current plate provided in contact with the edge may be used.

  The material of the rectifying plates 76A and 76B provided in contact with at least a part of the collecting member 74 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, resin, metal, or ceramic.

(Fixing device according to second embodiment)
A fixing device according to a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, a mode in which a first heating unit provided in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first rotating body is provided, and a second heating unit provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body is provided. This will be described using an example. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a fixing unit included in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and illustrates an example of a fixing device according to the second embodiment in the fixing unit.

The fixing device 80 includes, for example, an endless fixing belt 84 (an example of a first rotating body) and a pressing region N (nip portion N) between the fixing belt 84 by pressing the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 84. And a first heating roll 89 (first heating) that is provided so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt 84 in the nip portion N and that heats the fixing belt 84. A second heating roll 96 (an example of a second heating unit) that is provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface side of the fixing belt 84 and heats the fixing belt 84 from the outer peripheral surface side; A third heating roll 98 (an example of a third heating unit) that is provided in contact with the surface side and heats the fixing belt 84 from the inner peripheral surface side.
Further, the fixing device 80 includes a pair of support rolls 94 that support the fixing belt 84 between the third heating roll 98 and the first heating roll 89.
In the fixing device 80 of the present embodiment, the first heating roll 89, a second heating unit (second heating roll 96) different from the first heating roll 89, and a third heating unit (third heating roll 98) are used. The fixing belt 84 is heated.

Further, a collecting member 82 is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium K with respect to the sandwiching area N.
The collecting member 82 is similar to the collecting member 74 provided in the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment. The collecting member 82 shown in FIG. 4 is not provided with a rectifying plate, but may be provided with a rectifying plate provided in contact with a part of the collecting member 82. The collection member 82 may have a cartridge structure that can be attached to and detached from the fixing device 80, similarly to the collection member 74 provided in the fixing device according to the first embodiment.

The first heating roll 89 is, for example, a cylindrical roll made of aluminum, and internally has a halogen heater 89A as a heating source.
The first heating roll 89 is wound around the fixing belt 84 on the pressure roll 88 side, is driven to rotate by the rotating force of a motor (not shown), and presses the fixing belt 84 from the inner peripheral surface thereof to the pressure roll 88 side. Thus, the fixing belt 84 (nip portion N) is heated from the inner peripheral surface side.

The second heating roll 96 is, for example, a cylindrical roll made of aluminum. On the surface of the third heating roll 92, a release layer made of a fluorine resin having a thickness of 20 μm is formed.
The release layer of the second heating roll 96 is formed, for example, to prevent toner and paper powder from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 84 from migrating and accumulating on the outer peripheral surface of the second heating roll 92. is there.
Inside the second heating roll 96, for example, a halogen heater 96A as a heating source is provided to heat the fixing belt 84 from the outer peripheral surface side.

The third heating roll 98 is, for example, a cylindrical roll formed of aluminum, and is provided with a halogen heater 98A as a heating source inside, and heats the fixing belt 84 from the inner peripheral surface side. ing.
For example, a spring member (not shown) that presses the fixing belt 84 outward is disposed at both axial ends of the third heating roll 98.

  The first heating roll 89 preferably has a fixing temperature of 100 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less, and more preferably 120 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less, from the viewpoint of low-temperature fixability of the toner. In the same manner, the fixing temperature of each of the second heating roll 96 and the third heating roll 98 may be 100 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less, or 120 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less. Good.

  The pair of support rolls 94 are, for example, columnar rolls formed of aluminum.

  On the other hand, the pressure roll 88 is rotatably supported, for example, and is provided by being pressed against a portion where the fixing belt 84 is wound around the first heating roll 89 by urging means such as a spring (not shown). . Thus, as the fixing belt 84 rotates in the direction of the arrow S, the pressure roller 88 rotates in the direction of the arrow R following the fixing belt 84 and the first heating roller 89.

  Then, the sheet K (an example of a recording medium) having an unfixed toner image (not shown) is conveyed in the direction of arrow P and guided to the nip portion N of the fixing device 80. Thus, the toner image is fixed.

  In the fixing device 80 of the above embodiment, as a mode for heating the fixing belt 84, a first heating rotator (first heating roll 89) provided to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt in the nip portion; The embodiment in which the fixing belt 84 is heated by the second heating means (the second heating roll 96) and the third heating means (the third heating roll 98) provided separately from the first heating roll 89 has been described. Not limited.

For example, as a mode for heating the fixing belt, a mode in which the first heating rotator and one or more third heating means provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt heats the fixing belt; A mode in which the fixing belt is heated by the rotating body and one or more second heating units provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the fixing belt; a mode in which these are combined;
As a preferable mode of heating the fixing belt, for example, the first heating rotator, one third heating unit provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the fixing belt, and one third heating unit provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the fixing belt are provided. And a second heating unit for heating the fixing belt.
However, as described above, the heated region where the fixing belt is heated by at least one of the one or more second heating units is located downstream of the nip in the rotation direction of the fixing belt and from the nip. The fixing belt is preferably provided in an area within 50% of the circumferential length.

  Further, in the fixing device 80, a form in which a halogen heater (halogen lamp) is applied as an example of a heating source of the first heating rotator, the second heating unit, and the third heating unit has been described, but the invention is not limited thereto. . The heating source is a radiant lamp heating element other than the halogen heater (a heating element that emits radiation (such as infrared rays)) and a resistance heating element (a heating element that generates Joule heat by passing an electric current through the resistor: for example, a ceramic substrate having a resistance) A film formed and fired) may be applied.

Further, as a heating source of the second heating means and the third heating means, IH (electromagnetic induction heating) may be applied.
When two or more second heating units and third heating units are provided, the respective second heating units may be the same or different.
Further, in the fixing device 80, a form in which a pressure roll is applied as an example of the second rotating body has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a pressure belt.

(Electrostatic image developer)
Next, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the toner of the electrostatic image developer contained in the developing unit will be described in detail.

  Hereinafter, details of the toner according to the exemplary embodiment will be described.

  The toner according to the exemplary embodiment includes toner particles and, as necessary, an external additive.

(Toner particles)
The toner particles include, for example, a binder resin, a release agent, and, if necessary, a colorant and other additives.

-Release agent-
The melting temperature of the release agent is from 60 ° C to 100 ° C, preferably from 60 ° C to 90 ° C, more preferably from 60 ° C to 75 ° C.
When the melting temperature of the release agent is 100 ° C. or lower, the low-temperature fixing property of the toner is improved, and thus the fixing temperature in the image forming apparatus can be reduced. However, if the melting temperature of the release agent is 100 ° C. or lower, the release agent is liable to be vaporized when the toner is fixed, and UFP is likely to be generated when the vaporized release agent solidifies again in the air. However, even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, the amount of UFP discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus is reduced.
On the other hand, when the melting temperature of the release agent is 60 ° C. or higher, the release agent is prevented from adhering to the fixing member due to excessive melting of the release agent during fixing of the toner. In addition, it is possible to suppress excessive generation of ultra-fine particle dust (UFP).
The melting temperature of the release agent is controlled by a known method such as selection of the type of the release agent.

  The melting temperature is determined from the DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) according to the “melting peak temperature” described in JIS K 7121-1987 “Method for measuring the transition temperature of plastics”. .

The release agent is not particularly limited. For example, mineral and petroleum waxes such as montan wax, ozokerite, ceresin, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax; polyethylene wax, polypropylene wax, and polybutene wax Hydrocarbon waxes such as silicone waxes; fatty acid amide waxes such as oleic acid amide wax, erucic acid amide wax, ricinoleic acid amide wax, stearic acid amide wax; carnauba wax, rice wax, candelilla wax, wood wax, jojoba oil Vegetable wax such as beeswax; animal wax such as beeswax; ester wax such as fatty acid ester, montanic acid ester and carboxylic acid ester; and modified products thereof. That.
Among these, from the viewpoint of low-temperature fixability of the toner, paraffin wax, ceresin wax, carnauba wax, ester waxes of fatty acid esters and montanic acid esters, low molecular weight polyethylene wax, low molecular weight polypropylene wax are preferable, and paraffin wax is preferable. More preferred.

  The release agent may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more of them are used in combination, it is preferable that the melting temperature of at least one of the releasing agents is in the above-mentioned range, and the melting temperature of all the contained releasing agents is in the above-mentioned range.

  The content of the release agent is, for example, preferably from 1% by mass to 20% by mass, more preferably from 5% by mass to 15% by mass, based on the whole toner particles.

The melting temperature of the release agent and the set fixing temperature The melting temperature of the release agent [T2] is determined by the set fixing temperature of the fixing member of the image forming apparatus (that is, either the first heating unit or the heating rotator). [T1], the difference [T1-T2] is preferably from 30 ° C. to 140 ° C., more preferably from 40 ° C. to 120 ° C., and even more preferably from 50 ° C. to 100 °. .
When the set fixing temperature [T1] is higher than the melting temperature [T2] of the release agent and the difference [T1−T2] is 140 ° C. or less, the fixing temperature in the image forming apparatus can be reduced. On the other hand, when the difference [T1−T2] is equal to or higher than 30 ° C., the adhesion of the toner to the fixing member during the fixing of the toner can be suppressed. If the difference [T1−T2] is 30 ° C. or more, the release agent is liable to be vaporized when the toner is fixed, and the vaporized release agent is likely to solidify again in the air, thereby generating UFP. However, even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, the amount of UFP discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus is reduced.

  Here, the fixing set temperature in the fixing member (that is, the first heating unit or the heating rotator) indicates a target value of the temperature of a portion of the surface of the fixing member that comes into contact with the unfixed toner image. That is, it indicates the target value of the surface temperature of the fixing member at the moment when the fixing member contacts the unfixed toner image and the heat has not yet transferred to the unfixed toner image.

-Binder resin-
Examples of the binder resin include styrenes (eg, styrene, parachlorostyrene, α-methylstyrene, etc.) and (meth) acrylates (eg, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, acrylic acid) n-butyl, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, etc., ethylenically unsaturated nitriles (for example, acrylonitrile, Methacrylonitrile, etc.), vinyl ethers (eg, vinyl methyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether, etc.), vinyl ketones (vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl ethyl ketone, vinyl isopropenyl ketone, etc.), olefins (eg, ethylene, propylene Emissions, a homopolymer of a monomer such as butadiene) and the like, or a vinyl-based resin composed of these monomers with two or more combinations copolymer.
As the binder resin, for example, an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyamide resin, a cellulose resin, a polyether resin, a non-vinyl-based resin such as modified rosin, a mixture of these and the vinyl-based resin, or a mixture thereof. A graft polymer obtained by polymerizing a vinyl monomer in the coexistence is also included.
One of these binder resins may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in combination.

  From the viewpoint of improving the low-temperature fixability of the toner, it is preferable that a crystalline resin is included as the binder resin.

As the binder resin, a polyester resin is preferable. As the binder resin, a crystalline polyester is preferable.
Examples of the polyester resin include a known amorphous polyester resin. As the polyester resin, a crystalline polyester resin may be used together with the amorphous polyester resin.

Note that the “crystallinity” of the resin refers to having a clear endothermic peak instead of a stepwise endothermic change in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and specifically, a rate of temperature increase of 10 (° C.) / Min) means that the half width of the endothermic peak is within 10 ° C.
On the other hand, “amorphous” of the resin indicates that the half-value width exceeds 10 ° C., that the resin exhibits a stepwise change in endothermic amount, or that no clear endothermic peak is observed.

-Amorphous polyester resin Examples of the amorphous polyester resin include a polycondensate of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. As the amorphous polyester resin, a commercially available product or a synthesized product may be used.

Examples of the polycarboxylic acid include aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (eg, oxalic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, glutaconic acid, succinic acid, alkenyl succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.) Alicyclic dicarboxylic acid (eg, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, etc.), aromatic dicarboxylic acid (eg, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, etc.), anhydrides thereof, or lower (eg, having 1 or more carbon atoms) 5 or less) alkyl esters. Among these, as the polyvalent carboxylic acid, for example, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid is preferable.
The polyvalent carboxylic acid may be used in combination with a dicarboxylic acid and a trivalent or higher carboxylic acid having a crosslinked structure or a branched structure. Examples of the trivalent or higher carboxylic acid include trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, anhydrides thereof, and lower (for example, having 1 to 5 carbon atoms) alkyl esters thereof.
Polycarboxylic acids may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include aliphatic diols (eg, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butanediol, hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, etc.) and alicyclic diols (eg, cyclohexanediol, cyclohexanedimethanol, Hydrogenated bisphenol A, etc.) and aromatic diols (eg, bisphenol A ethylene oxide adduct, bisphenol A propylene oxide adduct, etc.). Among these, as the polyhydric alcohol, for example, an aromatic diol and an alicyclic diol are preferable, and an aromatic diol is more preferable.
As the polyhydric alcohol, a tri- or higher polyhydric alcohol having a crosslinked structure or a branched structure may be used together with the diol. Examples of the trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol include glycerin, trimethylolpropane, and pentaerythritol.
Polyhydric alcohols may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the amorphous polyester resin is preferably from 50 ° C to 80 ° C, more preferably from 50 ° C to 65 ° C.
The glass transition temperature is determined from a DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and is more specifically described in JIS K 7121-1987 “Method for measuring the transition temperature of plastic”. Of "extrapolated glass transition onset temperature".

The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the amorphous polyester resin is preferably from 5,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably from 7000 to 500,000.
The number average molecular weight (Mn) of the amorphous polyester resin is preferably from 2,000 to 100,000.
The molecular weight distribution Mw / Mn of the amorphous polyester resin is preferably from 1.5 to 100, more preferably from 2 to 60.
The weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The molecular weight measurement by GPC is performed using a Tosoh column and TSKgel Super HM-M (15 cm) using a Tosoh GPC / HLC-8120GPC as a measuring device, using a THF solvent. The weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are calculated from the measurement results using a molecular weight calibration curve prepared from a monodisperse polystyrene standard sample.

The amorphous polyester resin can be obtained by a well-known manufacturing method. Specifically, for example, it can be obtained by a method in which the polymerization temperature is set to 180 ° C. or higher and 230 ° C. or lower, the pressure in the reaction system is reduced as necessary, and the reaction is carried out while removing water and alcohol generated during condensation.
When the raw material monomers are not dissolved or compatible at the reaction temperature, a high boiling point solvent may be added as a solubilizing agent to dissolve the monomers. In this case, the polycondensation reaction is performed while distilling off the dissolution aid. When a monomer having poor compatibility exists in the copolymerization reaction, the monomer having poor compatibility and the monomer or acid or alcohol to be polycondensed are condensed in advance, and then polymerized together with the main component. It is good to condense.

-Crystalline polyester resin The crystalline polyester resin includes, for example, a polycondensate of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. As the crystalline polyester resin, a commercially available product may be used, or a synthesized product may be used.
Here, in order to easily form a crystalline structure, the crystalline polyester resin is preferably a polycondensate using a polymerizable monomer having a straight-chain aliphatic group rather than a polymerizable monomer having an aromatic group.

Examples of the polycarboxylic acid include aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (for example, oxalic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, 1,9-nonanedicarboxylic acid, 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid) Acids, 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,14-tetradecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,18-octadecanedicarboxylic acid, etc.), aromatic dicarboxylic acids (for example, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) Dibasic acids such as acids), anhydrides thereof, and lower (e.g., 1 to 5 carbon atoms) alkyl esters thereof.
The polyvalent carboxylic acid may be used in combination with a dicarboxylic acid and a trivalent or higher carboxylic acid having a crosslinked structure or a branched structure. Examples of the trivalent carboxylic acid include aromatic carboxylic acids (eg, 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, etc.) Anhydrides and lower (e.g., 1 to 5 carbon atoms) alkyl esters thereof are exemplified.
As the polyvalent carboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid having a sulfonic acid group or a dicarboxylic acid having an ethylenic double bond may be used in combination with these dicarboxylic acids.
Polycarboxylic acids may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include an aliphatic diol (for example, a linear aliphatic diol having a carbon number of 7 to 20 in a main chain portion). Examples of the aliphatic diol include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 1,8- Octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,11-undecanediol, 1,12-dodecanediol, 1,13-tridecanediol, 1,14-tetradecanediol, 1,18- Octadecanediol, 1,14-eicosandecanediol and the like can be mentioned. Among them, as the aliphatic diol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, and 1,10-decanediol are preferable.
As the polyhydric alcohol, a tri- or higher-valent alcohol having a crosslinked structure or a branched structure may be used together with the diol. Examples of the trivalent or higher alcohol include glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, and pentaerythritol.
Polyhydric alcohols may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Here, the polyhydric alcohol may have an aliphatic diol content of at least 80 mol%, preferably at least 90 mol%.

The melting temperature of the crystalline polyester resin is preferably from 50 ° C to 100 ° C, more preferably from 55 ° C to 90 ° C, and still more preferably from 60 ° C to 85 ° C.
The melting temperature is determined from the DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) according to the “melting peak temperature” described in JIS K7121-1987 “Method of measuring the melting temperature of plastics”.

  The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the crystalline polyester resin is preferably from 6,000 to 35,000.

  The crystalline polyester resin is obtained by a well-known manufacturing method, for example, similarly to the amorphous polyester resin.

  The content of the binder resin is, for example, preferably from 40% by mass to 95% by mass, more preferably from 50% by mass to 90% by mass, and more preferably from 60% by mass to 85% by mass, based on the whole toner particles. More preferred.

  In addition, the content of the crystalline resin is preferably 3% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, more preferably 5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less based on the whole toner particles, from the viewpoint of enhancing the low-temperature fixability of the toner. .

-Coloring agent-
Examples of the coloring agent include carbon black, chrome yellow, Hansa yellow, benzidine yellow, slen yellow, quinoline yellow, pigment yellow, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, vulcan orange, watch young red, permanent red, brilliant carmine 3B, and brilliant. Carmine 6B, Dupont Oil Red, Pyrazolone Red, Risor Red, Rhodamine B Lake, Lake Red C, Pigment Red, Rose Bengal, Aniline Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Calco Oil Blue, Methylene Blue Chloride, Phthalocyanine Blue, Pigment Blue, Phthalocyanine Green, Various pigments such as malachite green oxalate, or acridine, xanthene, Dyes such as benzoquinone, azine, anthraquinone, thioindico, dioxazine, thiazine, azomethine, indico, phthalocyanine, aniline black, polymethine, triphenylmethane, diphenylmethane, and thiazole And the like.
One type of colorant may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

  The colorant may be a surface-treated colorant as necessary, or may be used in combination with a dispersant. In addition, a plurality of colorants may be used in combination.

  The content of the colorant is, for example, preferably from 1% by mass to 30% by mass, and more preferably from 3% by mass to 15% by mass, based on the whole toner particles.

-Other additives-
Examples of the other additives include well-known additives such as a magnetic substance, a charge control agent, and an inorganic powder. These additives are contained in the toner particles as internal additives.

-Characteristics of toner particles-
The toner particles may be toner particles having a single-layer structure or toner particles having a so-called core-shell structure composed of a core (core particle) and a coating layer (shell layer) covering the core. You may.
Here, the toner particles having a core-shell structure include, for example, a core portion including a binder resin and other additives such as a colorant and a release agent as needed, and a binder resin. And a coating layer that is configured.

  The volume average particle diameter (D50v) of the toner particles is preferably 2 μm or more and 10 μm or less, more preferably 4 μm or more and 8 μm or less.

Various average particle diameters and various particle size distribution indexes of the toner particles were measured using Coulter Multisizer II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter), and the electrolytic solution was measured using ISOTON-II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter). You.
In the measurement, 0.5 mg or more and 50 mg or less of a measurement sample are added to 2 ml of a 5% aqueous solution of a surfactant (preferably sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate) as a dispersant. This is added to 100 ml or more and 150 ml or less of the electrolytic solution.
The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment for 1 minute by an ultrasonic disperser, and the particle size distribution of particles having a particle size in a range of 2 μm to 60 μm is measured by a Coulter Multisizer II using an aperture having an aperture diameter of 100 μm. Measure. The number of particles to be sampled is 50,000.
A volume distribution and a number are plotted from the smaller diameter side for the particle size range (channel) divided based on the measured particle size distribution, and the particle size at which the accumulation becomes 16% is determined as the volume particle size D16v and the number particle size. D16p, the particle diameter at which the accumulation is 50% is defined as a volume average particle diameter D50v, the accumulation number average particle diameter D50p, and the particle diameter at which the accumulation is 84% are defined as volume particle diameter D84v and number particle diameter D84p.
Using these, the volume particle size distribution index (GSDv) is calculated as (D84v / D16v) ^1/2 , and the number particle size distribution index (GSDp) is calculated as (D84p / D16p) ^1/2 .

The shape factor SF1 of the toner particles is preferably from 140 to 155, more preferably from 143 to 153, even more preferably from 145 to 151.
Here, when the toner particles are produced by a pulverizing method such as a kneading and pulverizing method, the shape is irregular, and for example, the shape factor SF1 is 140 or more. In the case of toner particles having a shape factor SF1 of 140 or more, the release agent is likely to be exposed on the surface due to the manufacturing method. The release agent exposed on the surface is easily vaporized by heat when fixing the toner, and as a result, UFP is easily generated. However, even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, the amount of UFP discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus is reduced.

The shape factor SF1 is obtained by the following equation.
Formula: SF1 = (ML ² / A) × (π / 4) × 100
In the above formula, ML indicates the absolute maximum length of the toner, and A indicates the projected area of the toner.
Specifically, the shape factor SF1 is quantified mainly by analyzing a microscope image or a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image using an image analyzer, and is calculated as follows. That is, the optical microscope image of the particles scattered on the slide glass surface is taken into a Luzex image analyzer by a video camera, the maximum length and the projected area of 100 particles are obtained, calculated by the above formula, and the average value thereof is obtained. can get.

The toluene-insoluble content of the toner particles is preferably from 25% by mass to 40% by mass, more preferably from 28% by mass to 38% by mass, and still more preferably from 30% by mass to 35% by mass.
When the toluene insoluble content of the toner particles is in the above range, the release agent is confined in the toner particles, and the exposure of the release agent to the surface is suppressed. As a result, generation of UFP due to the release agent is suppressed.

  Here, the toluene-insoluble portion of the toner particles is a component of the toner particles that are insoluble in toluene. That is, the toluene-insoluble component is an insoluble component containing a binder resin component (particularly, a high molecular weight component of the binder resin) insoluble in toluene as a main component (for example, 50% by mass or more of the whole). This toluene-insoluble content can be said to be an index of the content of the crosslinked resin contained in the toner.

The toluene-insoluble content is a value measured by the following method.
1 g of the weighed toner particles (or toner) is put into the weighed glass fiber cylindrical filter paper, and is attached to an extraction tube of a heated Soxhlet extraction device. Then, toluene is injected into the flask and heated to 110 ° C. using a mantle heater. In addition, the periphery of the extraction tube is heated to 125 ° C. using a heating heater attached to the extraction tube. Extraction is performed at a reflux rate such that the extraction cycle is performed once within a range of 4 minutes to 5 minutes. After extraction for 10 hours, the cylindrical filter paper and the toner residue are taken out, dried, and weighed.
Then, the formula: toner particle (or toner) residue amount (% by mass) = [(cylinder filter paper amount + toner residue amount) (g) -cylinder filter paper amount (g)] ÷ toner particle (or toner) mass (g) × Based on 100, the residual amount (% by mass) of the toner particles (or toner) is calculated, and the residual amount (% by mass) of the toner particles (or toner) is defined as a toluene-insoluble content (% by mass).
The toner particle (or toner) residue is composed of an inorganic substance such as a colorant and an external additive, and a high molecular weight component of a binder resin. Further, when the toner particles contain a release agent, extraction by heating is performed, so that the release agent is a toluene-soluble component.

  The toluene-insoluble content of the toner particles is, for example, a method of forming a cross-linked structure or a branched structure by adding a cross-linking agent to a polymer component having a reactive functional group at a terminal, and 2) at a terminal of a binder resin. It is adjusted by a method of forming a crosslinked structure or a branched structure with a polyvalent metal ion in a polymer component having an ionic functional group, 3) a method of elongating a resin chain length by treatment with an isocyanate or the like, or a method of forming a branch.

(External additives)
Examples of the external additive include inorganic particles. As the inorganic particles, SiO ₂ , TiO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , CuO, ZnO, SnO ₂ , CeO ₂ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , MgO, BaO, CaO, K ₂ O, Na ₂ O, ZrO ₂ , CaO. SiO ₂ , K ₂ O. (TiO ₂ ) n, Al ₂ O ₃ .2SiO ₂ , CaCO ₃ , MgCO ₃ , BaSO ₄ , MgSO _{4 and the} like.

The surface of the inorganic particles as an external additive is preferably subjected to a hydrophobic treatment. The hydrophobic treatment is performed, for example, by immersing the inorganic particles in a hydrophobic treatment agent. The hydrophobizing agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a silane coupling agent, a silicone oil, a titanate coupling agent, and an aluminum coupling agent. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The amount of the hydrophobizing agent is usually, for example, 1 part by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the inorganic particles.

  Examples of the external additive include resin particles (resin particles such as polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and melamine resin), a cleaning activator (for example, a metal salt of a higher fatty acid represented by zinc stearate, a fluoropolymer, Particles).

  The external additive amount of the external additive is, for example, preferably from 0.01% by mass to 5% by mass, more preferably from 0.01% by mass to 2.0% by mass, based on the toner particles.

(Method of manufacturing toner)
Next, a method for manufacturing a toner according to the exemplary embodiment will be described.
The toner according to the exemplary embodiment is obtained by externally adding an external additive to the toner particles after manufacturing the toner particles.

The toner particles may be produced by any of a dry production method (for example, a kneading and pulverizing method) and a wet production method (for example, an aggregation and coalescence method, a suspension polymerization method, and a dissolution suspension method). The production method of the toner particles is not particularly limited, and a known production method is employed.
Among these, it is preferable to obtain the toner particles by the aggregation and coalescence method.

-Aggregation coalescence method Specifically, for example, when the toner particles are manufactured by the aggregation coalescence method,
A step of preparing a resin particle dispersion in which resin particles serving as a binder resin are dispersed (resin particle dispersion preparation step); and a step of mixing a resin particle dispersion in another resin particle dispersion (if necessary, (In a dispersion), a step of aggregating the resin particles (other particles as necessary) to form aggregated particles (aggregated particle forming step), and heating the aggregated particle dispersion in which the aggregated particles are dispersed. And a step of fusing and coalescing the aggregated particles to form toner particles (fusing / coalescing step), thereby producing toner particles.

Hereinafter, details of each step will be described.
In the following description, a method for obtaining toner particles containing a colorant and a release agent will be described, but the colorant and the release agent are used as needed. Of course, other additives other than the colorant and the release agent may be used.

-Resin particle dispersion preparation process-
First, together with a resin particle dispersion in which resin particles serving as a binder resin are dispersed, for example, a colorant particle dispersion in which colorant particles are dispersed, and a release agent particle dispersion in which release agent particles are dispersed are prepared. I do.

  Here, the resin particle dispersion is prepared, for example, by dispersing resin particles in a dispersion medium with a surfactant.

Examples of the dispersion medium used for the resin particle dispersion include an aqueous medium.
Examples of the aqueous medium include water such as distilled water and ion-exchanged water, and alcohols. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of the surfactant include anionic surfactants such as sulfate ester type, sulfonate type, phosphate ester type and soap type; cationic surfactants such as amine salt type and quaternary ammonium salt type; polyethylene glycol And non-ionic surfactants such as alkylphenol ethylene oxide adducts and polyhydric alcohols. Among these, anionic surfactants and cationic surfactants are particularly mentioned. The nonionic surfactant may be used in combination with an anionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant.
One type of surfactant may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

Examples of the method for dispersing the resin particles in the dispersion medium in the resin particle dispersion include general dispersion methods such as a rotary shearing homogenizer, a ball mill having a medium, a sand mill, and a dyno mill. Depending on the type of the resin particles, the resin particles may be dispersed in the resin particle dispersion using, for example, a phase inversion emulsification method.
The phase inversion emulsification method is a method in which a resin to be dispersed is dissolved in a hydrophobic organic solvent in which the resin is soluble, and a base is added to an organic continuous phase (O phase) for neutralization. (W phase), a method of converting the resin from W / O to O / W (so-called phase inversion) to form a discontinuous phase, and dispersing the resin in an aqueous medium in a particulate form. It is.

The volume average particle diameter of the resin particles dispersed in the resin particle dispersion is, for example, preferably from 0.01 μm to 1 μm, more preferably from 0.08 μm to 0.8 μm, and further preferably from 0.1 μm to 0.6 μm. preferable.
The volume average particle size of the resin particles is determined by using a particle size distribution obtained by measurement using a laser diffraction type particle size distribution analyzer (for example, LA-700, manufactured by HORIBA, Ltd.). The volume-average particle size D50v is measured by subtracting the cumulative distribution from the small particle size side with respect to the volume and determining the particle size at which 50% of the total particles are accumulated. In addition, the volume average particle diameter of the particles in other dispersion liquids is measured similarly.

  The content of the resin particles contained in the resin particle dispersion is, for example, preferably from 5% by mass to 50% by mass, and more preferably from 10% by mass to 40% by mass.

  In the same manner as the resin particle dispersion, for example, a colorant particle dispersion and a release agent particle dispersion are also prepared. In other words, regarding the volume average particle diameter of the particles in the resin particle dispersion, the dispersion medium, the dispersion method, and the content of the particles, the colorant particles dispersed in the colorant particle dispersion, and the release agent particle dispersion The same applies to the releasing agent particles to be dispersed.

-Aggregated particle formation process-
Next, the colorant particle dispersion and the release agent particle dispersion are mixed together with the resin particle dispersion.
Then, in the mixed dispersion, the resin particles, the colorant particles, and the release agent particles having a diameter close to the diameter of the intended toner particles by hetero-aggregating the resin particles, the colorant particles, and the release agent particles, To form aggregated particles.

Specifically, for example, a coagulant is added to the mixed dispersion, the pH of the mixed dispersion is adjusted to acidic (for example, the pH is 2 or more and 5 or less), and if necessary, a dispersion stabilizer is added. By heating to a temperature of the glass transition temperature of the resin particles (specifically, for example, the glass transition temperature of the resin particles −30 ° C. or more and the glass transition temperature −10 ° C. or less), the particles dispersed in the mixed dispersion are aggregated. Form aggregated particles.
In the agglomerated particle forming step, for example, the above-mentioned flocculant is added at room temperature (for example, 25 ° C.) while stirring the mixed dispersion with a rotary shearing homogenizer, and the pH of the mixed dispersion is made acidic (for example, pH 2 to 5). ), And the above-mentioned heating may be performed after adding a dispersion stabilizer as needed.

Examples of the coagulant include a surfactant having a polarity opposite to that of the surfactant used as a dispersant added to the mixed dispersion, an inorganic metal salt, and a divalent or higher valent metal complex. In particular, when a metal complex is used as the aggregating agent, the amount of the surfactant used is reduced, and the charging characteristics are improved.
If necessary, an additive that forms a complex or a similar bond with the metal ion of the flocculant may be used. As this additive, a chelating agent is suitably used.

Examples of the inorganic metal salt include metal salts such as calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, barium chloride, magnesium chloride, zinc chloride, aluminum chloride, and aluminum sulfate; and inorganic salts such as polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum hydroxide, and calcium polysulfide. And metal salt polymers.
As the chelating agent, a water-soluble chelating agent may be used. Examples of the chelating agent include oxycarboxylic acids such as tartaric acid, citric acid and gluconic acid, iminodiic acid (IDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).
The addition amount of the chelating agent is, for example, preferably from 0.01 to 5.0 parts by mass, more preferably from 0.1 to less than 3.0 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of the resin particles.

-Fusion and coalescence process-
Next, the aggregated particle dispersion in which the aggregated particles are dispersed is heated, for example, to a temperature equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the resin particles (for example, equal to or higher than 10 to 30 ° C. higher than the glass transition temperature of the resin particles). To form toner particles.

Through the above steps, toner particles are obtained.
In addition, after obtaining the aggregated particle dispersion in which the aggregated particles are dispersed, the aggregated particle dispersion and the resin particle dispersion in which the resin particles are dispersed are further mixed, and the resin particles are further added to the surface of the aggregated particles. Coagulating so as to adhere to form second aggregated particles, and heating the second aggregated particle dispersion in which the second aggregated particles are dispersed to fuse and unite the second aggregated particles. And forming a toner particle having a core / shell structure.

Here, after completion of the fusion / coalescing step, the toner particles formed in the solution are subjected to a known washing step, solid-liquid separation step, and drying step to obtain dried toner particles.
In the washing step, it is preferable to sufficiently perform replacement washing with ion-exchanged water from the viewpoint of chargeability. The solid-liquid separation step is not particularly limited, but is preferably performed by suction filtration, pressure filtration, or the like from the viewpoint of productivity. The drying step is not particularly limited, but freeze drying, flash drying, fluid drying, vibration type fluid drying and the like are preferably performed from the viewpoint of productivity.

  The toner according to the exemplary embodiment is manufactured by, for example, adding an external additive to the obtained toner particles in a dry state and mixing. The mixing may be performed by, for example, a V blender, a Henschel mixer, a Lodige mixer, or the like. Further, if necessary, coarse particles of the toner may be removed using a vibration sieving machine, a wind sieving machine, or the like.

-Kneading and crushing method The toner particles in the present embodiment may be produced by a crushing method such as a kneading and crushing method. When manufactured by a pulverization method, the shape is irregular, and for example, the shape factor SF1 is in the above-described range. Then, since the release agent is easily exposed on the surface due to the manufacturing method, UFP is easily generated. However, even in such a case, according to the present embodiment, the amount of UFP discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus is reduced.

The kneading and pulverizing method is a method for producing toner particles by melt-kneading a binder resin and a release agent containing at least a specific paraffinic wax having a melting temperature in the above-mentioned range, followed by pulverization and classification. . In the kneading and pulverizing method, for example, a kneading step of melt-kneading components including a binder resin and a release agent, a cooling step of cooling the melt-kneaded material, a pulverizing step of pulverizing the kneaded material after cooling, and a pulverized material And a classification step of classifying the toner particles to produce toner particles.
Hereinafter, the details of each step of the kneading and pulverizing method will be described.

-Kneading process-
The kneading step is a step of melt-kneading constituent components (resin particle forming material) containing a binder resin and a release agent to obtain a kneaded product.
Examples of the kneading machine used in the kneading step include a three-roll type, a single screw type, a twin screw type, and a Banbury mixer type.
Further, the melting temperature may be determined according to the types and the mixing ratios of the binder resin and the release agent to be kneaded.

-Cooling process-
The cooling step is a step of cooling the kneaded material formed in the kneading step.
In the cooling step, in order to maintain a dispersed state immediately after the completion of the kneading step, it is preferable to cool the kneaded product from the temperature at the end of the kneading step to 40 ° C. or lower at an average temperature lowering rate of 4 ° C./sec or more.
In addition, the average cooling rate refers to the average value of the rate at which the temperature of the kneaded material is lowered from the temperature of the kneaded material to 40 ° C. at the end of the kneading step.

  As a cooling method in the cooling step, for example, a method using a rolling roll circulating cold water or brine, a sandwiching-type cooling belt, or the like can be used. When the cooling is performed by the above method, the cooling rate is determined by the speed of the rolling roll, the flow rate of the brine, the supply amount of the kneaded material, the slab thickness at the time of rolling the kneaded material, and the like. The slab thickness is preferably 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less.

-Pulverizing process-
Particles are formed by pulverizing the kneaded material cooled in the cooling step in the pulverizing step.
In the pulverizing step, for example, a mechanical pulverizer, a jet pulverizer, or the like is used.

-Classification process-
The pulverized product (particles) obtained in the pulverizing step may be subjected to classification in a classification step, if necessary.
In the classification process, a conventionally used centrifugal classifier, inertial classifier, or the like is used, and fine powder (particles smaller than the target range) and coarse powder (particles in the target range) are used. Larger particles) are removed.

  The toner according to the exemplary embodiment is manufactured by, for example, adding an external additive to the obtained toner particles in a dry state and mixing. The mixing may be performed by, for example, a V blender, a Henschel mixer, a Lodige mixer, or the like. Further, if necessary, coarse particles of the toner may be removed using a vibration sieving machine, a wind sieving machine, or the like.

<Electrostatic image developer>
The electrostatic image developer according to the exemplary embodiment contains at least the toner according to the exemplary embodiment.
The electrostatic image developer according to the exemplary embodiment may be a one-component developer including only the toner according to the exemplary embodiment, or a two-component developer obtained by mixing the toner and a carrier.

The carrier is not particularly limited, and includes known carriers. Examples of the carrier include a coated carrier in which a core resin made of a magnetic powder is coated with a coating resin; a magnetic powder-dispersed carrier in which a magnetic powder is dispersed and blended in a matrix resin; a porous magnetic powder impregnated with a resin; And a resin-impregnated carrier.
Note that the magnetic powder-dispersed carrier and the resin-impregnated carrier may be a carrier obtained by using constituent particles of the carrier as a core material and coating the core particles with a coating resin.

  Examples of the magnetic powder include magnetic metals such as iron, nickel, and cobalt, and magnetic oxides such as ferrite and magnetite.

As the coating resin and the matrix resin, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl ketone, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-acrylate Examples include copolymers, straight silicone resins containing organosiloxane bonds or modified products thereof, fluororesins, polyesters, polycarbonates, phenolic resins, epoxy resins, and the like.
Note that the coating resin and the matrix resin may contain other additives such as conductive particles.
Examples of the conductive particles include particles such as metals such as gold, silver and copper, carbon black, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, barium sulfate, aluminum borate, and potassium titanate.

Here, in order to coat the surface of the core material with the coating resin, a method of coating the coating resin with a coating layer forming solution in which various additives are dissolved in an appropriate solvent, if necessary, and the like can be mentioned. The solvent is not particularly limited, and may be selected in consideration of the coating resin to be used, suitability for application, and the like.
Specific resin coating methods include an immersion method in which the core material is immersed in a solution for forming the coating layer, a spray method in which the solution for forming the coating layer is sprayed on the surface of the core material, and a method in which the core material is suspended by flowing air. Examples thereof include a fluidized bed method in which a coating layer forming solution is sprayed, and a kneader coater method in which a carrier core material and a coating layer forming solution are mixed in a kneader coater to remove a solvent.

  The mixing ratio (mass ratio) of the toner and the carrier in the two-component developer is preferably toner: carrier = 1: 100 to 30: 100, and more preferably 3: 100 to 20: 100.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

<Preparation of crystalline resin (A)>
First, 100 parts by mass of dimethyl sebacate, 67.8 parts by mass of hexanediol, and 0.10 parts by mass of dibutyltin oxide were placed in a three-necked flask under a nitrogen atmosphere, and water generated during the reaction was removed outside the system. After the reaction at 185 ° C. for 5 hours, the temperature was increased to 220 ° C. while gradually reducing the pressure, and the reaction was continued for 6 hours, followed by cooling. Thus, a crystalline resin (A) having a weight average molecular weight of 33,700 was prepared.

<Preparation of amorphous resin>
(Preparation of amorphous resin (1))
In a three-necked flask, 61 parts by mass of dimethyl terephthalate, 75 parts by mass of dimethyl fumarate, 34 parts by mass of dodecenylsuccinic anhydride, 16 parts by mass of trimellitic acid, 137 parts by mass of an adduct of bisphenol A ethylene oxide, 137 parts by mass of bisphenol A propylene After reacting 191 parts by mass of the oxide adduct and 0.3 parts by mass of dibutyltin oxide in a nitrogen atmosphere while removing water produced by the reaction outside the system at 180 ° C. for 3 hours, the pressure was gradually reduced. The temperature was raised to 280 ° C. while reacting for 2 hours and then cooled. Thus, an amorphous resin (1) having a weight average molecular weight of 19000 was prepared.

(Preparation of amorphous resin (2))
Except that 60 parts by mass of dimethyl terephthalate, 74 parts by mass of dimethyl fumarate, 30 parts by mass of dodecenylsuccinic anhydride and 22 parts by mass of trimellitic acid were used, the same procedure as in the preparation of the amorphous resin (1) was carried out. 2) was produced. The weight average molecular weight of the amorphous resin (2) was 19,500.

(Preparation of amorphous resin (3))
Except that 60 parts by mass of dimethyl terephthalate, 70 parts by mass of dimethyl fumarate, 29 parts by mass of dodecenylsuccinic anhydride and 29 parts by mass of trimellitic acid were used, the same procedure as in the preparation of the amorphous resin (1) was carried out. 3) was produced. The weight average molecular weight of the amorphous resin (3) was 18,200.

(Preparation of amorphous resin (4))
Except that 55 parts by mass of dimethyl terephthalate, 64 parts by mass of dimethyl fumarate, 27 parts by mass of dodecenylsuccinic anhydride, and 46 parts by mass of trimellitic acid were used, the same procedure as in the preparation of the amorphous resin (1) was carried out. 4) was produced. The weight average molecular weight of the amorphous resin (4) was 17,200.

<Preparation of toner>
(Preparation of Toner (1))
Amorphous resin (1) 79 parts by mass of A, 7 parts by mass of colorant (CI Pigment Blue 15: 1), release agent (paraffin wax, melting temperature 73 ° C., manufactured by Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd.) 5 Parts by mass and 8 parts by mass of the crystalline resin A (melting point: 71 ° C.) were charged into a Henschel mixer (manufactured by Nippon Coke Industry Co., Ltd.), and mixed by stirring at a peripheral speed of 15 m / sec for 5 minutes. The mixture was melt-kneaded with an extruder-type continuous kneader.
Here, the setting conditions of the extruder were as follows: the supply side temperature was 160 ° C., the discharge side temperature was 130 ° C., the supply side temperature of the cooling roll was 40 ° C., and the discharge side temperature was 25 ° C. The temperature of the cooling belt was set at 10 ° C.
After cooling the obtained melt-kneaded product, it was roughly pulverized using a hammer mill, then finely pulverized to 6.5 μm using a jet pulverizer (manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Industries, Ltd.), and furthermore, an elbow jet classifier. (Model: EJ-LABO, manufactured by Nittetsu Mining Co., Ltd.) to obtain toner particles having a volume average particle diameter of 6.9 μm.
SF1 was 145. The toluene insoluble content was 25% by mass.

(Preparation of Toner (2))
Toner particles having a volume average particle size of 6.8 μm were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the amorphous resin (2) was used instead of the amorphous resin (1). The toluene insoluble content was 29% by mass.
SF1 was 147.

(Preparation of Toner (3))
Toner particles having a volume average particle diameter of 7.0 μm were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amorphous resin (3) was used instead of the amorphous resin (1). The toluene insoluble content was 35% by mass.
SF1 was 149.

(Preparation of Toner (4))
Toner particles having a volume average particle diameter of 7.3 μm were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the amorphous resin (4) was used instead of the amorphous resin (1). The toluene insoluble content was 40% by mass.
SF1 was 151.

(Preparation of Toner (C1))
A toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.0 μm in the same manner as in Example 1 except that paraffin wax (manufactured by Baker Petrolite: polywax 725, melting temperature 105 ° C.) was used instead of the paraffin wax used in Example 1. Particles were obtained. The toluene insoluble content was 45% by mass. SF1 was 146.

(Production of toner and developer)
Using a Henschel mixer (manufactured by Mitsui Miike Seisakusho), 100 parts by mass of each toner particle and 1.2 parts by mass of a commercially available fumed silica RX50 (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) as an external additive were used. And toners (1) to (4) and (C1) were obtained.
Subsequently, 8 parts by mass of each of the obtained toners and 100 parts by mass of the carrier were mixed to prepare developers (1) to (4) and (C1), respectively.
The carrier is 100 parts by mass of ferrite particles (volume average particle size: 50 μm), 14 parts by mass of toluene, and a styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer (component ratio: styrene / methyl methacrylate = 90/10, weight average molecular weight Mw). = 80000) 2 parts by mass of the above components except for the ferrite particles were first stirred with a stirrer for 10 minutes to prepare a coating liquid, and then the coating liquid and the ferrite particles were mixed with a vacuum degassing kneader ( After stirring at 60 ° C. for 30 minutes, the mixture was degassed under reduced pressure while further heating, dried, and then sieved at 105 μm.

<Examples A1 to A5>
As the image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus (a remodeled product of DocuColor 1450, manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.) was prepared.
This image forming apparatus is a fixing device (fixing device A) having a configuration similar to that of FIG. 2, and is located on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium with respect to a sandwiching region formed between a heating roll and a pressure belt. (At a position where the distance from the sandwiched area to the closest collecting member is 0.8 as a ratio to the diameter of the heating roll with respect to the recording medium). The device was modified to include a fixed fixing device. Further, the filter provided at the exhaust port of the image forming apparatus was removed. The collecting member arranged in the fixing device is a porous body obtained from polyphenylene sulfide, and has a ratio of opening area to total area (opening area / total area) of 5, an average pore diameter of 0.1 μm, and a thickness of 5 mm. It is as follows.
Further, in a manner similar to FIG. 3, the fixing device was modified as a collecting member in which the collecting member was provided with a rectifying plate at two positions on the recording medium side and the heating roll side of the collecting member. The fixing temperature of the heating roll (first heating roll) is 160 ° C.
Then, the developer shown in Table 1 was stored in the developing device of the image forming apparatus.

<Examples B1 to B5>
As the image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus (a remodeled product of DocuColor 1450, manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.) was prepared.
This image forming apparatus is a fixing device (fixing device B) having a configuration similar to that of FIG. 4, and is located on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the recording medium with respect to a sandwiching region formed between the fixing belt and the pressure roll. Around the recording medium (disposed on the image side with respect to the recording medium, and arranged at a position where the distance from the sandwiching area to the closest collecting member is 0.8 as a ratio to the diameter of the first heating roll). The device was modified to include a fixing device in which members were arranged. Further, the filter provided at the exhaust port of the image forming apparatus was removed. The arranged collecting member is the same as that in Example A.
Further, in a manner similar to FIG. 3, the fixing device was modified as a collecting member in which the collecting member was provided with a rectifying plate at two positions on the recording medium side and the heating roll side of the collecting member.
Then, the developer shown in Table 1 was stored in the developing device of the image forming apparatus. The fixing temperature of the first heating roll is 170 ° C.

<Comparative Examples 1 to 4, Reference Example>
As the image forming apparatus, remodeled machines of the image forming apparatuses prepared in Examples A1 to A5 and Examples B1 to B5 were prepared.
The modified machine was provided with a fixing device in which no collecting member was provided. Further, as a collecting member, instead of the porous body obtained from polyphenylene sulfide, a porous body obtained from a fluororesin, and the ratio of the opening area to the total area (opening area / total area) is 5, The modified machine was provided with a collecting member having an average pore diameter of 0.3 μm and a thickness of 5 mm or less. The fixing temperature was set to the same temperature as when the fixing device A or the fixing device B was used.
Then, the developer shown in Table 1 was stored in the developing device of the image forming apparatus.

<Evaluation>
(Evaluation of low-temperature fixability)
A 4 cm × 5 cm unfixed image patch was prepared on J paper (A4) with a toner amount of 4.0 g / m ² , and this was printed under the condition that the process speed was fixed at 140 mm / sec. The fixing was performed by changing the temperature (fixing temperature of the heating roll) from 80 ° C. to 180 ° C. every 5 ° C., and the lowest fixing temperature at which offset did not occur (minimum fixing temperature) was measured.
As a result of this evaluation, in Examples A1 to A4, B1 to B4, and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, the minimum fixing temperature was lower than 130 ° C., and good results were obtained. On the other hand, in the reference example, since the minimum fixing temperature was higher (140 ° C. or higher) than Examples A1 to A4, B1 to B4, and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, the low-temperature fixability was low.

(Evaluation of UFP)
Under the environment of a temperature of 22 ° C. and a humidity of 55% RH, an image having an image density of 100% was continuously formed on both sides of 1,000 sheets of A3-size paper at the fixing temperature shown in Table 1. During the image formation, the particle emission rate (PER _{10 PW} ) of UFP discharged from the image forming apparatus was measured at Fuji Xerox International Verification Center based on RAL UZ-171.
Based on the value of the measured particle emission rate [unit (number of particles / 10 minutes)], evaluation was made in three stages of G1 to G3. The relative evaluation was performed using the fixing device of the comparative example without the collecting member as a reference (G3). G1 has the smallest value, indicating that UFP is small.

From the above results, in each of the examples, the release amount of UPF derived from the release agent contained in the toner is suppressed as compared with each of the comparative examples.
In the reference example, since the melting temperature of the release agent contained in the toner exceeded 100 ° C., the release amount of UPF derived from the release agent contained in the toner was small.

1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K Image forming unit 11 Photoconductor (image carrier)
12 charging device 13 laser exposure device 14 developing device 15 intermediate transfer belt (belt member)
Reference Signs List 15A Elastic layer 15B Base material 16 Primary transfer roll 17 Photoconductor cleaner 20 Secondary transfer unit 22 Secondary transfer roll 25 Back roll 26 Power supply roll 31 Drive roll 32 Support roll 33 Tension applying roll 34 Cleaning back roll 35 Intermediate transfer belt cleaner 40 Control unit 42 Reference sensor 43 Image density sensor 50 Paper storage unit 51 Paper supply roll 52 Transport roll 53 Transport guide 55 Transport belt 56 Fixing entrance guide 60 Fixing device

Claims (17)

An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the surface of the image holding member,
Electrostatic image forming means for forming an electrostatic image on the surface of the charged image carrier,
An electrostatic image developer containing a toner for developing an electrostatic image having toner particles containing a release agent having a melting temperature of 60 ° C. or more and 100 ° C. or less is accommodated, and the electrostatic image developer is used to form the image carrier. Developing means for developing the electrostatic charge image formed on the surface as a toner image,
Transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of the recording medium,
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium, wherein the fixing means is disposed in contact with the first rotating body and an outer surface of the first rotating body so as to be sandwiched between the first rotating body and the first rotating body. A second rotating body that forms a trapping region, and a fixing unit that is provided on the periphery of the recording medium in the traveling direction upstream of the sandwiching region, traps particles, and has a trapping member that includes polyphenylene sulfide.
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a melting temperature of the release agent is 60 ° C. or more and 90 ° C. or less.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release agent is a paraffin wax.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner particles include a crystalline resin.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the content of the crystalline resin is 3% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less based on the mass of the toner particles.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the content of the crystalline resin is 5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less based on the mass of the toner particles.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a toluene-insoluble content of the electrostatic image developing toner is 25% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape factor SF1 of the toner particles is 140 or more.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collection member is a porous body.   The ratio of the opening area and the total area of the collection member is 5 or more, the average pore diameter is 0.1 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less, and the thickness is 0.5 mm or more and 50 mm or less. Image forming device.   The image according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a rectifying plate provided in contact with at least a part of the collecting member to rectify an air flow and guide the particles to the collecting member. Forming equipment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first heating unit provided in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the first rotating body.   13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a second heating unit provided in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the first rotating body.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotator is a heating rotator.   15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a fixing set temperature of the first heating unit or the heating rotator is 100 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less.   16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a set fixing temperature of the first heating unit or the heating rotator is 120 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less.   17. The method according to claim 1, wherein a difference between a fixing set temperature of the first heating unit or the heating rotator and a melting temperature of the release agent in the toner particles is 30 ° C. or more and 140 ° C. or less. Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.