Pulverization/classification apparatus for manufacturing powder, and method for manufacturing powder using the pulverization/classification apparatus

Abstract

A pulverization/classification apparatus including a cylindrical vessel having an inner wall, on a surface of which a layer including a release agent is located; a pulverizer configured to pulverize a material such as toner raw materials in the cylindrical vessel using a compressed air to prepare a particulate material; and a classifier configured to classify the particulate toner material to prepare a powder of the material. Alternatively, the inner wall of the cylindrical vessel has a circumferentially projected portion. A method for manufacturing a powder such as toners using the pulverization/classification apparatus is also provided.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A pulverization/classification apparatus comprising: 
 a cylindrical vessel having an inner wall, wherein the inner wall comprises a layer including a release agent on a surface thereof;    a pulverizer configured to pulverize a material disposed in the cylindrical vessel using a compressed air to prepare a particulate material; and    a classifier configured to classify the particulate material to prepare a powder of the material having a predetermined average particle diameter.    
     
     
         2 . A pulverization/classification apparatus comprising: 
 a cylindrical vessel having an inner wall, wherein the inner wall comprises a circumferentially projected portion;    a pulverizer configured to pulverize a material disposed in the cylindrical vessel using a compressed air to prepare a particulate material; and    a classifier configured to classify the particulate toner raw material to prepare a powder of the material having a predetermined average particle diameter.    
     
     
         3 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical vessel satisfies the following relationship: 
         A/ 2 ≦B≦ 9 A/ 10 
       wherein A is equal to an inside cross sectional area of the cylindrical vessel other than the circumferentially projected portion, and B is equal to an inside cross sectional area of the cylindrical vessel at the circumferentially projected portion.  
     
     
         4 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical vessel satisfies the following relationship: 
         H/ 10 ≦QR≦ 5 H/ 10 
       wherein H is equal to a length of the cylindrical vessel in a vertical direction and QR is equal to a length of the circumferentially projected portion in the vertical direction.  
     
     
         5 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical vessel satisfies the following relationship: 
         H/ 10 ≦Ph≦ 8 H/ 10 
       wherein H is equal to a length of the cylindrical vessel in a vertical direction and Ph is equal to a height of the circumferentially projected portion in a horizontal direction that is about perpendicular to the vertical direction.  
     
     
         6 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circumferentially projected portion further comprises a layer including an electroconductive release agent on a surface thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the circumferentially projected portion further comprises a layer including an electroconductive release agent on a surface thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the circumferentially projected portion further comprises a layer including an electroconductive release agent on a surface thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the circumferentially projected portion further comprises a layer including an electroconductive release agent on a surface thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the classifier further comprises: 
 a blade having a fixed portion; and    a driving member configured to drive the blade and having a fixed portion,    wherein each of the fixed portions of the blade and driving member has a layer including an electroconductive release agent on a surface thereof.    
     
     
         11 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the classifier further comprises: 
 a blade having a fixed portion; and    a driving member configured to drive the blade and having a fixed portion,    wherein each of the fixed portions of the blade and driving member has a layer including an electroconductive release agent on a surface thereof.    
     
     
         12 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressed air has a dew point of from about −10° C. to about −40° C.  
     
     
         13 . The pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the compressed air has a dew point of from about −10° C. to about −40° C.  
     
     
         14 . A method for manufacturing a powder comprising: 
 feeding the material in the cylindrical vessel of the pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 1;     pulverizing the material with the pulverizer in the cylindrical vessel to prepare the particulate material; and    classifying the particulate material with the classifier to prepare the powder of the material having the predetermined average particle diameter.    
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a powder comprising: 
 feeding the material in the cylindrical vessel of the pulverization/classification apparatus according to  claim 2;     pulverizing the material with the pulverizer in the cylindrical vessel to prepare the particulate material; and    classifying the particulate material with the classifier to prepare the powder of the material having the predetermined average particle diameter.    
     
     
         16 . A pulverization/classification apparatus comprising: 
 a cylindrical vessel having an inner wall, wherein the inner wall comprises a layer including a release agent on a surface thereof;    a means for pulverizing a material disposed in the cylindrical vessel to prepare a particulate material; and    a means for classifying the particulate material to prepare a powder of the material having a predetermined average particle diameter.