IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,499,659
Granted Patent B2
US 7,499,659 · App. 11/318,195 · Granted Mar 3, 2009

Image-forming apparatus and image-forming method

Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,499,659
App. No.
11/318,195
Granted
Mar 3, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The image-forming apparatus and an image-forming method of the present invention stably provides a high-quality image having a surface with a uniform gloss value, without reduction in image density, and with good fixability. The image-forming apparatus and image-forming method of the present invention provide are characterized in that white toner or transparent toner is used under the conditions that the storage elastic modulus of the white toner or transparent toner at a saturated temperature in a fixing nip at the time of an fixing step is set to be higher than the storage elastic modulus at a saturated temperature in the fixing nip of each colored toner at the time of the fixing step, and that the storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (W) or G′ (T) (To) at the saturated temperature in the fixing nip of the white toner or the transparent toner at the time of the fixing step is in the range of 1.0×10 4 to 1.0×10 6 dyn/cm 2 .

Claims (24)

1. An image-forming apparatus for forming a multi-color toner image by superimposing a plurality of colored toners, the image-forming apparatus comprising:

an image-forming unit that forms a white toner image between a transfer material and the multi-color toner image by developing and transferring white toner corresponding to the multi-color toner image; and

a fixing unit that fixes the multi-color toner image and the white toner image on the transfer material,

wherein a storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (W) at a saturated temperature in a fixing nip of the white toner at a time of the fixing is higher than a storage elastic modulus at a saturated temperature in the fixing nip of each of the colored toners at the time of the fixing, and

wherein the storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (W) at the saturated temperature in the fixing nip of the white toner at the time of the fixing is 1.0×10 4 dyn/cm 2 or more and 1.0×10 6 dyn/cm 2 or less.

2. An image-forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the colored toners comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner.

3. An image-forming apparatus for forming a multi-color toner image by superimposing a plurality of colored toners, the image-forming apparatus comprising:

an image-forming unit that forms a transparent toner image between a transfer material and the multi-color toner image by developing and transferring transparent toner corresponding to the multi-color toner image; and

a fixing unit that fixes the multi-color toner image and the transparent toner image on the transfer material,

wherein a storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (To) at a saturated temperature in a fixing nip of the transparent toner at a time of the fixing is higher than a storage elastic modulus at a saturated temperature in the fixing nip of each of the colored toners at the time of the fixing; and

wherein the storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (To) at the saturated temperature in the fixing nip of the transparent toner at the time of the fixing step is 1.0×10 4 dyn/cm 2 or more and 1.0×10 6 dyn/cm 2 or less.

4. An image-forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the colored toners comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner.

5. An image-forming method of forming a multi-color toner image by superimposing a plurality of colored toners, the image-forming method comprising:

an image-forming step of forming a white toner image between a transfer material and the multi-color toner image by developing and transferring white toner corresponding to the multi-color toner image; and

a fixing step of fixing the multi-color toner image and the white toner image on the transfer material,

wherein a storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (W) at a saturated temperature in a fixing nip of the white toner at a time of the fixing step is higher than a storage elastic modulus at a saturated temperature in the fixing nip of each of the colored toners at the time of the fixing step; and

wherein the storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (W) at the saturated temperature in the fixing nip of the white toner at the time of the fixing step is 1.0×10 4 dyn/cm 2 or more and 1.0×10 6 dyn/cm 2 or less.

6. An image-forming method according to claim 5 , wherein the colored toners comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner.

7. An image-forming method of forming a multi-color toner image by superimposing a plurality of colored toners, the image-forming method comprising:

an image-forming step of forming a transparent toner image between a transfer material and the multi-color toner image by developing and transferring transparent toner corresponding to the multi-color toner image; and

a fixing step of fixing the multi-color toner image and the transparent toner image on the transfer material,

wherein a storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (To) at a saturated temperature in a fixing nip of the transparent toner at a time of the fixing step is higher than a storage elastic modulus at a saturated temperature in the fixing nip of each of the colored toners at the time of the fixing step; and

wherein the storage elastic modulus G′ (T) (To) at the saturated temperature in the fixing nip of the transparent toner at the time of the fixing step is 1.0×10 4 dyn/cm 2 or more and 1.0×10 6 dyn/cm 2 or less.

8. An image-forming method according to claim 7 , wherein the colored toners comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF INVENTOR KAZUHISA KEMMOCHI, WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY RECORDED AS "KEMMOCH" PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 017384 FRAME 0919. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE INVENTOR'S NAME IS KAZZUHISA KEMMOCHI AS SHOWN ON THE ORIGINAL ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSMITTAL LETTER. Recorded May 22, 2006
From: FUKATSU, MAKOTO; KEMMOCHI, KAZUHISA; ABE, KEISUKE
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 017655/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2005
From: FUKATSU, MAKOTO; KEMMOCH, KAZUHISA; ABE, KEISUKE
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 017384/0919 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2004-379427 · Dec 28, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060140677A1 · Jun 29, 2006