Abstract: A toner for developing a latent electrostatic image to a toner image, including a binder resin, and a magnetic material which is blackened by coating the surface of a magnetic powder with a coloring agent, the magnetic material being in an amount of 10 wt.% to 40 wt.% of the entire weight of the toner, a method of forming an image, using a two-component developer containing the toner, an image formation apparatus using the two-component developer, and a toner container containing therein the toner, and an image formation apparatus equipped with the toner container are proposed.

Abstract: An image-forming color toner contains at least a colorant, a resin (A), a modified resin (B) and a wax (a) as a mold releasing agent, the image-forming color toner having a phase separated structure comprising the modified resin (B) as a domain in the resin (A) as a continuous phase, and wax (a) being effectively contained the modified resin (B). The modified resin (B) has a wax part containing a wax component (b), and a modified part formed of a vinyl monomer unit and an average ester group concentration of 8% by weight to 30% by weight.

Abstract: A user registration processor unit registers the user registration information to the database, which includes the public key certification acquired from the certification authority that has jurisdiction over each party by the request from the transaction party including seller, buyer, and transportation company. A transfer registration processor unit changes the access right holder and the cargo owner of the shipment information registered to the database at the start of transaction in compliance with the request for request for changing registration of the party with the digital signature and public key certification attached. A verification processor unit achieves the transfer registration with legal binding power by verifying that the digital signature attached to the request for request for changing registration has been prepared by the private key which makes a pair with the public key certificate registered to the database and receiving the approval of the other party.

Abstract: An image removing method including bringing an outermost layer of a removing member into contact with an image fixed on an image support without applying a liquid to the image while heating the image and the outermost layer; and separating the removing member from the image support to remove the image from the image support, wherein the removing member includes a substrate and the outermost layer which is located overlying the substrate and which includes a thermoplastic resin, and wherein the image includes a removing agent which can decrease adhesion force of the image to the image support when heated.

Abstract: An image removing method including bringing an outermost layer of a removing member into contact with an image fixed on an image support without applying a liquid to the image while heating the image and the outermost layer; and separating the removing member from the image support to remove the image from the image support, wherein the removing member includes a substrate and the outermost layer which is located overlying the substrate and which includes a thermoplastic resin, and wherein the image includes a removing agent which can decrease adhesion force of the image to the image support when heated.

Abstract: A color toner including toner particles including a colorant, a binder resin, and a wax; and an external additive including at least one of an inorganic particulate material and a particulate resin, wherein the binder resin includes a polyester resin (A) having a crystallinity and a formula (—O—CO—CR1=CR2-CO—O—(CH2)n—)m, wherein R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrocarbon, and n and m are repeating numbers; a resin (B); and a resin (C), wherein the resins (B) and (C) and the wax have an island-sea structure such that the resin (C) is present like islands in a sea of the resin (B) and the wax is substantially included in the resin (C). A toner container, an image forming method, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge including the color toner are also provided.

Abstract: A color toner composition including at least toner particles including at least a binder resin; a colorant and a release agent dispersed in the binder resin; and a titania as an external additive, wherein the colorant has an average dispersion particle diameter not greater than 0.5 ?m; the release agent and the binder resin are insoluble to each other; the toner particles satisfy the relationship: 0.05?Dw/D4?0.4, wherein Dw represents an average dispersion particle diameter of the release agent and D4 represents a weight-average particle diameter of the toner particles; and the titania has a segregation rate of from 0.5 to 5%.

Abstract: A large-diameter core optical fiber and a small-diameter core high optical fiber are fusion-spliced, and the spliced portion is heated to expand the core diameter of a core of the high optical fiber and form a spot size transition portion, whereby spot sizes of the optical fibers are matched and relative refractive index differences thereof are made substantially identical. Subsequently, the optical fiber is cut at an arbitrary position and the spliced portion and the spot size transition portion are placed inside a ferule with the large diameter core optical fiber arranged on a light incident and outgoing end face side of the ferrule to form an optical fiber component. The core diameter is expanded while monitoring transition loss of the splined portion to obtain an optical fiber component having an optimal spot size transition portion without an advanced technique and without increase in transition loss.

Abstract: A charge control agent containing a calcium salt of a sulfoisophthalic acid compound. A toner for developing an electrostatic latent image including the above charge control agent, a binder resin and a colorant.

Abstract: A color toner including toner particles including a colorant, a binder resin, and a wax; and an external additive including at least one of an inorganic particulate material and a particulate resin, wherein the binder resin includes a polyester resin (A) having a crystallinity and a formula (—O—CO—CR1?CR2—CO—O—(CH2)n—)m, wherein R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrocarbon, and n and m are repeating numbers; a resin (B); and a resin (C), wherein the resins (B) and (C) and the wax have an island-sea structure such that the resin (C) is present like islands in a sea of the resin (B) and the wax is substantially included in the resin (C). A toner container, an image forming method, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge including the color toner are also provided.

Abstract: An image-forming color toner contains at least a colorant, a resin (A), a modified resin (B) and a wax (a) as a mold releasing agent, the image-forming color toner having a phase separated structure comprising the modified resin (B) as a domain in the resin (A) as a continuous phase, and wax (a) being effectively contained the modified resin (B). The modified resin (B) has a wax part containing a wax component (b), and a modified part formed of a vinyl monomer unit and an average ester group concentration of 8% by weight to 30% by weight.

Abstract: An image-forming color toner contains at least a colorant, a resin (A), a modified resin (B) and a wax (a) as a mold releasing agent, the image-forming color toner having a phase separated structure comprising the modified resin (B) as a domain in the resin (A) as a continuous phase, and wax (a) being effectively contained the modified resin (B). The modified resin (B) has a wax part containing a wax component (b), and a modified part formed of a vinyl monomer unit and an average ester group concentration of 8% by weight to 30% by weight.

Abstract: A toner, a developing method and apparatus is provided to satisfy both the low temperature fixation property and the hot offset property and that has a wide range of fixing temperature. The toner for an image formation comprises at least metal materials in a binding resin, wherein the toner is measured by a stand-alone type flow tester, and has a softening temperature of 65˜77.5° C., a flow beginning temperature of 100˜120° C., a melt temperature by a ½ method is 145˜195° C., and an average length of a short axis of a primary particle of the metal materials is 0.01˜0.4 ?m.

Abstract: A color toner composition including at least toner particles including at least a binder resin; a colorant and a release agent dispersed in the binder resin; and a titania as an external additive, wherein the colorant has an average dispersion particle diameter not greater than 0.5 ?m; the release agent and the binder resin are insoluble to each other; the toner particles satisfy the relationship: 0.05?Dw/D4?0.4, wherein Dw represents an average dispersion particle diameter of the release agent and D4 represents a weight-average particle diameter of the toner particles; and the titania has a segregation rate of from 0.5 to 5%.

Abstract: A color toner composition including at least toner particles including at least a binder resin; a colorant and a release agent dispersed in the binder resin; and a titania as an external additive, wherein the colorant has an average dispersion particle diameter not greater than 0.5 ?m; the release agent and the binder resin are insoluble to each other; the toner particles satisfy the relationship: 0.05?Dw/D4? 0.4, wherein Dw represents an average dispersion particle diameter of the release agent and D4 represents a weight-average particle diameter of the toner particles; and the titania has a segregation rate of from 0.5 to 5%.

Abstract: A toner prepared by a method of dissolving or dispersing toner constituents comprising a modified resin capable of reacting with an active hydrogen and a colorant which is a black metallic material to prepare a solution or a dispersion; and reacting the solution or dispersion with at least one of a crosslinking agent and an elongation agent in an aqueous medium including a resin particulate material.

Abstract: A charge control agent containing a barium salt of a sulfoisophthalic acid compound and optionally a metal salt of a salicylic acid compound. A toner for developing an electrostatic latent image comprising such a charge control agent, a binder resin and a colorant.

Abstract: A toner for electrophotography contains a binder resin, a charge control agent, and a colorant. The colorant is a black iron oxide compound containing 10 to 45% by weight of titanium component calculated in terms of Ti atom in relation to Fe atom when measured by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Peaks at Bragg angle 2&thgr; of the toner to Cu&kgr;&agr; X-ray are peak A at 32.9 degrees±0.3 degrees and peak B at 35.5 degrees±0.3 degrees, and X ray intensity ratio between peaks A and B (A/B) is in the range of 0.3 to 2.0 at a scan speed of 0.5 to 4 degrees/min.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic latent images, including a colorant, a releasing agent and a binder resin, wherein the binder resin comprises a first, crystalline polyester resin, and a second, amorphous polyester resin having a softening point higher than that of the first polyester resin and being incompatible with the first polyester resin.

Abstract: A large-diameter core optical fiber and a small-diameter core high &Dgr; optical fiber are fusion-spliced, and the vicinity of a spliced portion is heated to expand a core diameter of a core of the high &Dgr; optical fiber and form a spot size transition portion, whereby spot sizes of the optical fiber and the high &Dgr; optical fiber are matched and relative refractive index differences thereof are made substantially identical. Subsequently, an arbitrary position of the optical fiber is cut such that the spliced portion and the spot size transition portion are placed inside a ferule, and the optical fiber is arranged on a light incident and outgoing end face side of the ferrule to form an optical fiber component. It is advisable to expand the core diameter of the core while monitoring a transition loss of the spliced portion.