Abstract: This invention relates to image bearing member and an image forming apparatus that employs the image bearing member. The image bearing member contains an electroconductive substrate; a charge generation layer; a charge transport layer; a cross-linking surface protective layer, and a monomer having one radical polymerizable functional group with a charge transport structure. The cross-linking surface protective layer is formed by curing a monomer having at least three radical polymerizable functional groups without a charge transport structure. For the image bearing member, the ratio of the layer thickness of the cross linking surface protective layer to the layer thickness of the charge transport layer is from 0.7 to 1.3.

Abstract: A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer overlying an electroconductive substrate; coating a liquid including a radically polymerizable compound to form a protective layer; irradiating the protective layer with light to crosslink the protective layer; and then contacting the protective layer with a fluid, which is selected from the group consisting of supercritical fluids and subcritical fluids and which includes a charge transport material. A photoreceptor prepared by the method. An image forming method, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A developing agent including a toner particle obtained by using a dispersion containing a solvent, a granular mixed compound having a binder resin and a coloring agent dispersed in the solvent, and, as an additive to disperse a compound, a combination of a surfactant and a basic compound or a combination of a sulfone-based surfactant and a polycarboxylic acid-based surfactant, wherein the additive remaining in the developing agent is within a predetermine range.

Abstract: Provided is a toner including toner particles each containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax component, and an inorganic fine powder, the toner being wherein: in a microscopic compression test on the toner, a recovery ratio Z(25) and the gradient of a load-displacement curve R(25) each satisfy a specific range; and the toner has a glass transition temperature (TgA) measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) in a specific range and a temperature (P1) of the highest endothermic peak measured with the DSC in a specific range, and the temperature (P1) of the highest endothermic peak and the glass transition temperature (TgA) satisfy a specific relationship.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is disclosed. The toner has softening point Tsp of from 90° C. to 110° C., and the toner satisfies the relation of 0.02?(Sw/S)×100?10, Sw being an area of a wax domain having largest diameter among wax domains at a cross section of the toner particle, and S being entire area of the cross section of the toner particle.

Abstract: A toner having charge control agents which impart excellent triboelectric charging characteristics.

Abstract: Emulsion aggregation toners comprising a polyester-wax resin, wherein the polyester-wax resin includes a wax that is chemically incorporated into the main chain of the polyester.

Abstract: Methods of making fibrous webs having a visible transparency variation image and products constructed from such methods are generally disclosed. The variation in transparency creates a transparency variation image in the fibrous substrate in the form of a false watermark and/or a false shadow mark. In the method disclosed, a transfer sheet having a transfer coating is utilized. A portion of the transfer coating is removed from the transfer sheet by heat transfer with a printable sheet having a toner image applied thereon. The transfer coating of the transfer sheet includes a powdered thermoplastic polymer and a film-forming binder. The film-forming binder can have a melting point that is less than that of the powdered thermoplastic polymer. In the final step of the method, the remaining transfer coating is transferred to a fibrous substrate to form the transparency variation image in the fibrous substrate.

Abstract: A toner including a binder resin; a colorant; a release agent; and a modified layered inorganic material in which at least part of interlayer ions is modified with an organic ion, wherein the toner has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of 3 to 7 ?m and a ratio (Dv/Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to a number average particle diameter (Dn) of the toner of 1.00 to 1.30, and wherein the release agent is included in the toner in an amount (A) of 1 to 10% by weight, and the ratio (B/A) of the amount (A) to the amount (B) of the release agent included in a classified toner in units of percent by weight is 0.7 to 1.3, wherein the classified toner satisfies the relationship (Dv?/Dn??1)/(Dv/Dn?1)?¾wherein Dv? and Dn? respectively represent the volume and number average particle diameters of the classified toner.

Abstract: To provide a toner prepared by emulsifying or dispersing a solution or dispersion of a toner material in an aqueous medium containing fine resin particles for granulation, wherein at least one of the toner material and the aqueous medium contains a polyalkylene glycol ester compound that is compatible with the fine resin particles and that has a weight average molecular weight of 2,000 or greater.

Abstract: A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and wherein at least one of the charge transport layer and the photogenerating layer contains a titanocene.

Abstract: Hydrophobic inorganic fine particles are provided which: does not cause melt adhesion of toner to a photosensitive member and contamination of a contact charging member; imparts excellent flowability, charging performance and durability to toner even after the toner is stored in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment over a long time period; and does not cause dripping of toner and contamination with the toner. The hydrophobic inorganic fine particles are obtained by subjecting inorganic fine particles to surface treatment with silicone oil and then with a silane compound and/or a silazane compound, or by subjecting inorganic fine particles to surface treatment with a silane compound and/or a silazane compound in the presence of silicone oil, and further subjecting the inorganic fine particles thus surface-treated to surface treatment with silicone oil.

Abstract: A toner is provided including a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the toner has a displacement-load curve in which a maximum compression strength is from 0.65 to 1.0 mN and a slope of a line through an origin point and a first shoulder is not less than 1.1 mN/?m; along with an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge using the toner.

Abstract: A photoconductor containing a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer, and a top polymeric overcoat layer in contact with, and contiguous to the charge transport layer, and which overcoat layer includes an indium tin oxide.

Abstract: Methods for making dispersions, which are of various rheologies, various pigment/binder ratios, various particle sizes, and possess less impurities or large particles are provided. These dispersions may be utilized to form layers of photoreceptors.

Abstract: A mixture containing a binder resin and a colorant is mixed with an aqueous medium, the resulting mixture liquid is mechanically sheared to finely granulate the mixture, fine particles are formed as cores, and a coating resin layer is formed on core surfaces, to obtain toner particles.

Abstract: A photoconductor that includes, for example, a substrate; an undercoat layer thereover wherein the undercoat layer contains a metal oxide and a carbazole containing compound; a photogenerating layer; and at least one charge transport layer.

Abstract: A process includes developing toner images on a photoconductor, transferring to an intermediate transfer belt and a transferring-and-fixing roller. The toner images are transferred to and fixed to a paper simultaneously while the paper moves between the transferring-and-fixing roller and a pressure roller which is pressed against the transferring-and-fixing roller. After transfer process to the paper, residual toner particles remaining on the transferring-and-fixing roller are removed by a cleaning roller. In order to achieve a cleanability from the transferring-and-fixing roller and prevent the intermediate belt from becoming too high temperature, the elastic modulus of the toner particles measured when the toner particles are heated is greater than the elastic modulus of the toner particles when cooled in a temperature range where the glass transition temperature and 10° C. lower than the melting temperature of the toner particles.

Abstract: A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer containing at least one charge transport component, and wherein the charge transport layer also contains a thiadiazole.

Abstract: A toner is provided including a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent, which has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of from 3 to 9 ?m, and wherein the binder resin and the release agent form a sea-island structure in which the island formed of the release agent is dispersed in the sea formed of the binder resin in a cross-sectional image of the toner obtained by a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and the following relationships are satisfied: IB>IA and IB>IC, wherein each of IA, IB, and IC represents an area ratio (%) of the island in an outermost region (A) of the cross-sectional image of the toner, an intermediate region (B) thereof located under the outermost region (A), and an innermost region (C) thereof located under the intermediate region (B); and a method of preparing the toner.