Abstract: A non-magnetic single-component toner 8 of the present invention has toner mother particles 8a, and external additives 12 comprising: two hydrophobic silicas 13, 14 of which particle diameters are different from each other, i.e. a mean primary particle diameter of 7 nm to 12 nm and a mean primary particle diameter of 40 nm to 50 nm, and a hydrophobic rutile/anatase type titanium oxide 15 having a spindle shape of which major axial diameter is in a range from 0.02 nm to 0.10 nm and the ratio of the major axial diameter to the minor axial diameter is set to be 2 to 8, wherein the external additives 12 adhere to the toner mother particles 8a. By the hydrophobic silicas 13, 14 having work function smaller than the work function of the toner mother particles 8a, the negative charging property is imparted to the toner mother particles 8a and the fluidity is also insured.

Abstract: A toner quantity measuring device, a method of measuring toner quantity and an image forming apparatus are provided that can accurately measure the toner quantity in an environmentally friendly manner, without having to make contact with a toner carrier and within a shortened period of time. The toner quantity measuring device is designed to measure the quantity of the toner T on a developing roller 510 which carries coloring agent-containing toner T in the form of a thin layer. The toner quantity measuring device is provided with a chromaticity detector 3 for detecting average chromaticity of the light which is irradiated from a light source 2 onto the developing roller 510 and then reflected by the developing roller 510, and a calculator 4 for calculating the toner quantity based on the average chromaticity detected by the chromaticity detector 3.

Abstract: A carrier carries developer. A regulation member disposed at a lower portion of the carrier to control an amount of the developer carried by the carrier. A first container disposed below the carrier to contain the developer therein. A guiding path guides developer dropped by the regulation member from the carrier, to the first container.

Abstract: A developing method, including the steps of: carrying one-component non-magnetic toner on a developer carrier; pressing the one-component non-magnetic toner by a regulating member so as to regulate a transporting quantity of the one-component non-magnetic toner so that the one-component non-magnetic toner is charged; forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier; providing the one-component non-magnetic toner to the electrostatic latent image so as to convert the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image; and controlling the one-component non-magnetic toner so that the one-component non-magnetic toner pressed by the regulating member satisfies the following relationship: B/A?1, where A represents a width [?m] of a particle size distribution of the one-component non-magnetic toner; and B represents a width [fC] of a charge quantity distribution of the one-component non-magnetic toner.

Abstract: A non-magnetic single-component toner 8 of the present invention has toner mother particles 8a, and external additives 12 comprising: two hydrophobic silicas 13, 14 of which particle diameters are different from each other, i.e. a mean primary particle diameter of 7 nm to 12 nm and a mean primary particle diameter of 40 nm to 50 nm, and a hydrophobic rutile/anatase type titanium oxide 15 having a spindle shape of which major axial diameter is in a range from 0.02 nm to 0.10 nm and the ratio of the major axial diameter to the minor axial diameter is set to be 2 to 8, wherein the external additives 12 adhere to the toner mother particles 8a. By the hydrophobic silicas 13, 14 having work function smaller than the work function of the toner mother particles 8a, the negative charging property is imparted to the toner mother particles 8a and the fluidity is also insured.

Abstract: The invention provides an imaging system wherein toners of two or more colors are used to form toner images and the toner images are successively used to form a color image on a recording material. The imaging system can form an image with high transfer efficiency. An electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier. Using developing units for two or more colors, images are formed. Then, the images are successively transferred onto an intermediate transfer medium at a transfer voltage fed from a constant-voltage power supply. The developing units are located such that development occurs in descending toner work function order.

Abstract: A non-magnetic single-component toner 8 of the present invention has toner mother particles 8a, and external additives 12 comprising: two hydrophobic silicas 13, 14 of which particle diameters are different from each other, i.e. a mean primary particle diameter of 7 nm to 12 nm and a mean primary particle diameter of 40 nm to 50 nm, and a hydrophobic rutile/anatase type titanium oxide 15 having a spindle shape of which major axial diameter is in a range from 0.02 nm to 0.10 nm and the ratio of the major axial diameter to the minor axial diameter is set to be 2 to 8, wherein the external additives 12 adhere to the toner mother particles 8a. By the hydrophobic silicas 13, 14 having work function smaller than the work function of the toner mother particles 8a, the negative charging property is imparted to the toner mother particles 8a and the fluidity is also insured.

Abstract: A non-magnetic single-component toner 8 of the present invention has toner mother particles 8a, and external additives 12 comprising: two hydrophobic silicas 13, 14 of which particle diameters are different from each other, i.e. a mean primary particle diameter of 7 nm to 12 nm and a mean primary particle diameter of 40 nm to 50 nm, and a hydrophobic rutile/anatase type titanium oxide 15 having a spindle shape of which major axial diameter is in a range from 0.02 nm to 0.10 nm and the ratio of the major axial diameter to the minor axial diameter is set to be 2 to 8, wherein the external additives 12 adhere to the toner mother particles 8a. By the hydrophobic silicas 13, 14 having work function smaller than the work function of the toner mother particles 8a, the negative charging property is imparted to the toner mother particles 8a and the fluidity is also insured.

Abstract: A carrier carries developer. A regulation member disposed at a lower portion of the carrier to control an amount of the developer carried by the carrier. A first container disposed below the carrier to contain the developer therein. A guiding path guides developer dropped by the regulation member from the carrier, to the first container.

Abstract: An image is formed in a receiving sheet by embedding toner in an image receiving layer on a base. The distribution of molecular weight of resin in the image receiving layer measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of soluble matters of tetrahydrofuran (THF) has at least two peaks or shoulders. And the critical surface tension of the image receiving layer is made to be smaller than the critical surface tension of external additive. Further, the image receiving layer has a thermal characteristic such that a storage modulus (G′) of 1×102 Pa to 1×105 Pa and a loss modulus (G″) of 1×102 Pa to 1×105 Pa at temperatures at which the toner is fixed. Furthermore, the image receiving layer contains an aromatic ester compound, more preferably the aromatic polyester compound being dialkyl phthalate. Still further, the image receiving layer has a Rockwell hardness (R scale) HRa of 121 or lower.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image in a receiving sheet by embedding toner in an image receiving layer formed on a base of the receiving sheet. The image forming apparatus uses a toner having an external additive, and the critical surface tension of the image receiving layer is made to be smaller than the critical surface tension of external additive. Further, the image receiving layer has a viscoelastic characteristic such that its storage modulus (G′) is between 1×102 Pa to 1×105 Pa and its loss modulus (G″) is between 1×102 Pa to 1×105 Pa at temperatures at which the toner is fixed. Furthermore, the image receiving layer contains an aromatic ester compound, more preferably the aromatic polyester compound being dialkyl phtalate. Still further, the image receiving layer has a Rockwell hardness (R scale) HRa of 121 or lower.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a image from an electrostatic latent image formed on an image portion of a latent image carrier which is charged to a predetermined potential includes the steps of: supplying to a toner carrier member, toner comprising toner base particles, a first additive constituted by fine particles, and a second additive constituted by fine particles, wherein respective potentials of the toner carrier member, the toner base particles, the first additive and the second additive have a predetermined triboelectric series; using the predetermined triboelectric series to transfer the toner from the toner carrier member to the image portion of the latent image carrier; and developing the image from the transferred toner.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing an image by using spherical non-magnetic toner particles has a latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed by a potential contrast, a toner transporter having a surface for transporting the spherical non-magnetic toner particles to the latent image carrier, and an elastic blade having a surface for passing the spherical non-magnetic toner particles transported by the toner transporter through a gap between the surfaces of the toner transporter and elastic blade, thereby forming a thin toner layer which is charged. The toner transporter develops an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier with the thin toner layer which is charged. Surface roughnesses of the elastic blade and of the toner transporter are different from each other, and the spherical non-magnetic toner particles are rotated between the elastic blade and the toner transporter and charged electrostacially.

Abstract: A developing method using negative toner, constituted by a toner carrier 1 and toner so that triboelectric series of the toner carrier 1, a toner base particle 3 and a surface additives 2 have a relationship in which the toner carrier 1, the surface additives 2 and the toner base particle 3 are arranged in this order from the plus side.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing an image with spherical toner particles has a latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed by a potential contrast, a toner transporter having a surface for transporting the spherical toner particles to the latent image carrier and an elastic blade having a surface for passing the spherical toner particles transported by the toner transporter through a gap between the surfaces of the toner transporter and elastic blade for forming a thin toner layer which is charged. The toner transporter is elastically deformed for the surface thereof to be brought into pressure contact with the latent image carrier and develop an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier with the thin toner layer which is charged. Surface roughnesses of the elastic blade and of the toner transporter are different from each other. The toner particles are rotated between the elastic blade and the toner transporter and charged electrostatically.

Abstract: A developing method using negative toner, constituted by a toner carrier 1 and toner so that triboelectric series of the toner carrier 1, a toner base particle 3 and a surface additives 2 have a relationship in which the toner carrier 1, the surface additives 2 and the toner base particle 3 are arranged in this order from the plus side.

Abstract: A electrostatic development process regulates and electrostatically charges a thin layer of toner particles between an elastic blade and a toner transporter having a surface roughness different from the elastic blade. The toner particles have a spherical shape and are rotated between the elastic blade and the toner transporter in order to be electrostatically charged.

Abstract: A developing device having a toner carrier for feeding a toner through pressure contact with a latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image pattern has been formed. The toner carrier comprises a foam member having a foam portion and a solid surface layer portion. The foam portion and the solid surface layer portion comprise an identical material and are continuous with each other substantially without the presence of any interface therebetween. The foam member has a density gradient in the direction of the thickness. The developing device of the present invention enables a soft pressure contact development to be stably conducted, has advantageously low production and operation cost, and can form an image having a high resolution without a significant variation in the density.

Abstract: A thermal transfer type printer having an ink sheet rejuvenation system and method for rejuvenation of an ink sheet used in the printer wherein the printer has a transport path for transporting the ink sheet past an ink deposition station for selective transfer of powder ink from a powder ink supply to an ink sheet surface when a bias is applied at the station; ink fixing station having fixing applicator for selective engagement with the ink sheet surface for fixing the powder ink to the ink sheet; and a printing station having a thermal print head for engagement of the print head with the ink sheet onto a surface of an output medium for forming images on the output medium by selective thermal transfer of ink to the output medium surface in imagewise formation.

Abstract: A developing device having a toner carrier for feeding a toner through pressure contact with a latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image pattern has been formed. The toner carrier comprises a foam member having a foam portion and a solid surface layer portion. The foam portion and the solid surface layer portion comprise an identical material and are continuous with each other substantially without the presence of any interface therebetween. The foam member has a density gradient in the direction of the thickness. The developing device of the present invention enables soft pressure contact development to be stably conducted, has advantageously low production and operation cost, and can form an image having a high resolution without a significant variation in the density.