Extrusion drying process for toner particles useful in electrography

摘要

The present invention relates to methods of drying and recovering toner particles from a liquid carrier. The methods are very effective to generate discrete, substantially non-agglomerated dry toner particles in a manner that preserves the particle size and particle distribution of the wet particles. The resultant dried toner particles free-flowing with a relatively narrow particle size distribution. The present invention uses extrusion techniques to coat wet toner particles onto a substrate surface. Because the resultant coating has a relatively large drying surface area per gram of particle incorporated into the coating, drying may occur relatively quickly under moderate temperature and pressure conditions. After drying, the dried toner particles are readily recovered and may then be used in dry or even wet toners for electrophotographic applications.