Abstract: The image forming apparatus has an image forming portion capable of forming an image on a transferring medium by the use of a hypochromatic toner and a hyperchromatic toner of substantially the same color. The image forming portion is provided with a developing device for developing with the hypochromatic toner and the hyperchromatic toner, wherein, in an image area in which the hyperchromatic toner and the hypochromatic toner are mixedly present, the recording rate of the hyperchromatic toner is 1/16, the minimum size Wmini of a toner image of the hyperchromatic toner is 50 ?m or less on the transferring medium. Thereby, it is achieved to reduce graininess.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a toner kit having a deep toner and a pale toner which are separated from each other, wherein: the deep toner and the pale toner satisfy prescribed conditions for an L*a*b* color coordinate system where a* represents a hue in the red-green direction, b* represents a hue in the yellow-blue direction, and L* represents a lightness; the pale toner and the deep toner to be used in the toner kit; and a method for forming an image using the toner kit. Thus, the present invention can form a high quality image, while suppressing graininess and roughness over the areas covering from the low density area to the high density area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner that exhibits excellent low-temperature fixing properties, offset resistance, and has excellent storage stability in a developing machine. The toner has, in a DSC curve obtained by measuring the toner with differential scanning calorimeter, a glass transition temperature (Tg1) measured in a first scan of 50.0 to 70.0° C. and a temperature difference (Tg1?Tg2) between the glass transition temperature (Tg1) measured in the first scan and a glass transition temperature (Tg2) measured in a second scan ranging from 3.0 to 20.0° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a toner kit having a deep toner and a pale toner which are separated from each other, wherein: the deep toner and the pale toner satisfy prescribed conditions for an L*a*b* color coordinate system where a* represents a hue in the red-green direction, b* represents a hue in the yellow-blue direction, and L* represents a lightness; the pale toner and the deep toner to be used in the toner kit; and a method for forming an image using the toner kit. Thus, the present invention can form a high quality image, while suppressing graininess and roughness over the areas covering from the low density area to the high density area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner that exhibits excellent low-temperature fixing properties, offset resistance, and has excellent storage stability in a developing machine. The toner has, in a DSC curve obtained by measuring the toner with differential scanning calorimeter, a glass transition temperature (Tg1) measured in a first scan of 50.0 to 70.0° C. and a temperature difference (Tg1?Tg2) between the glass transition temperature (Tg1) measured in the first scan and a glass transition temperature (Tg2) measured in a second scan ranging from 3.0 to 20.0° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner that exhibits excellent low-temperature fixing properties, offset resistance, and has excellent storage stability in a developing machine. The toner has, in a DSC curve obtained by measuring the toner with differential scanning calorimeter, a glass transition temperature (Tg1) measured in a first scan of 50.0 to 70.0° C. and a temperature difference (Tg1?Tg2) between the glass transition temperature (Tg1) measured in the first scan and a glass transition temperature (Tg2) measured in a second scan ranging from 3.0 to 20.0° C.

Abstract: A coloring agent for use in toners which comprises coloring particles modified with a surface modifier having in one molecule a hydrophilic moiety, a hydrophobic moiety, and a reactive moiety between the hydrophilic moiety and the hydrophobic moiety. Also disclosed is a toner comprising toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a coloring agent comprising the above surface-modified coloring particles.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus forms an image using a deep toner and a pale toner at least for one color such that the pale toner is used to form an image in a high lightness area, and the pale toner and the deep toner are used in combination to form the image in a half tone area. A toner kit has a deep toner and a pale toner which are separated from each other. A method for forming an image uses the color image forming apparatus, the toner kit, and the deep toner and the pale toner. A high quality image can be formed while inhibiting graininess and roughness over a broad image area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner that exhibits excellent low-temperature fixing properties, offset resistance, and has excellent storage stability in a developing machine. The toner has, in a DSC curve obtained by measuring the toner with differential scanning calorimeter, a glass transition temperature (Tg1) measured in a first scan of 50.0 to 70.0° C. and a temperature difference (Tg1?Tg2) between the glass transition temperature (Tg1) measured in the first scan and a glass transition temperature (Tg2) measured in a second scan ranging from 3.0 to 20.0° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a toner kit having a deep toner and a pale toner which are separated from each other, wherein: the deep toner and the pale toner satisfy prescribed conditions for an L*a*b* color coordinate system where a* represents a hue in the red-green direction, b* represents a hue in the yellow-blue direction, and L* represents a lightness; the pale toner and the deep toner to be used in the toner kit; and a method for forming an image using the toner kit. Thus, the present invention can form a high quality image, while suppressing graininess and roughness over the areas covering from the low density area to the high density area.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit capable of forming an image with a hypochromic toner and a hyperchromic toner of a substantially same hue, a first toner containing portion containing the hypochromic toner, a second toner containing portion containing the hyperchromic toner, and a density detecting unit which detects a density of an image formed with the hypochromic toner and the hyperchromic toner. Thus an image can be formed with the hypochromic toner and the hyperchromic toner of a substantially same hue.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has an image forming portion capable of forming an image on a transferring medium by the use of a hypochromatic toner and a hyperchromatic toner of substantially the same color. The image forming portion is provided with a developing device for developing with the hypochromatic toner and the hyperchromatic toner, wherein, in an image area in which the hyperchromatic toner and the hypochromatic toner are mixedly present, the recording rate of the hyperchromatic toner is 1/16, the minimum size Wmini of a toner image of the hyperchromatic toner is 50 ?m or less on the transferring medium. Thereby, it is achieved to reduce graininess.

Abstract: A toner production process comprising the step of polymerizing a polymerizable monomer in the presence of (i) base particles containing at least a binder resin and (ii) a polymerization initiator. The polymerization initiator has in one molecule a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety and a reactive moiety between them, and the base particles are enlarged and/or surface-modified upon polymerization of the polymerizable monomer. Also disclosed is a toner having a circularity of from 0.92 to 1.0, which is produced by this process.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image including: a first light source emitting a beam corresponding to image information; a first photosensitive member; a first developing means for developing a latent image with a first toner; a second light source; a second photosensitive member; and a second developing means for developing a latent image with a second toner, in which the coloring agent contained in the first toner and the coloring agent contained in the second toner are substantially of the same hue, with the content of the coloring agent contained in the second toner being smaller than the content of the coloring agent contained in the first toner, and in which an oscillation wavelength of at least the first light source ranges from 370 to 500 nm. With the image forming apparatus structured as described above, an improvement in terms of granularity is achieved.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit capable of forming an image with a hypochromic toner and a hyperchromic toner of a substantially same hue, a first toner containing portion containing the hypochromic toner, a second toner containing portion containing the hyperchromic toner, and a density detecting unit which detects a density of an image formed with the hypochromic toner and the hyperchromic toner. Thus an image can be formed with the hypochromic toner and the hyperchromic toner of a substantially same hue.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image including: a first light source emitting a beam corresponding to image information; a first photosensitive member; a first developing means for developing a latent image with a first toner; a second light source; a second photosensitive member; and a second developing means for developing a latent image with a second toner, in which the coloring agent contained in the first toner and the coloring agent contained in the second toner are substantially of the same hue, with the content of the coloring agent contained in the second toner being smaller than the content of the coloring agent contained in the first toner, and in which an oscillation wavelength of at least the first light source ranges from 370 to 500 nm. With the image forming apparatus structured as described above, an improvement in terms of granularity is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a color image forming apparatus that forms an image using a deep toner and a pale toner at least for one color such that the pale toner is used to form an image in a high lightness area and the pale toner and the deep toner are used in combination to form the image in a half tone area; a toner kit having a deep toner and a pale toner which are separated from each other; a deep toner and a deep toner and a pale toner to be used in the toner kit and the color image forming apparatus; and a method for forming an image using the color image forming apparatus, the toner kit, and the deep toner and the pale toner. According to the present invention, a high quality image can be formed while inhibiting graininess and roughness over a broad image area.

Abstract: A toner is comprised of a binder resin, a colorant and a wax. The binder resin has a polycarbonate resin in an amount of from 0.1% by weight to 50.0% by weight and a resin other than the polycarbonate resin in an amount of from 50.0% by weight to 99.9% by weight, based on the weight of the binder resin. In molecular weight distribution as measured by gel permeation chromatography of tetrahydrofuran-soluble matter, the toner contains in an amount of 15.0% by weight or less based on the weight of the toner a component which has in its structure a repeating unit of the polycarbonate resin and is contained in components having a molecular weight of 1,000 or less.

Abstract: A toner is comprised of toner particles composed of at least a binder resin and a clorant, wherein the toner particles each have a coating layer formed on their surfaces in a state of particulate matters being stuck to one another. The particulate matters contains at least a silicon compound.

Abstract: A toner production process comprising the step of polymerizing a polymerizable monomer in the presence of (i) base particles containing at least a binder resin and (ii) a polymerization initiator. The polymerization initiator has in one molecule a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety and a reactive moiety between them, and the base particles are enlarged and/or surface-modified upon polymerization of the polymerizable monomer. Also disclosed is a toner having a circularity of from 0.92 to 1.0, which is produced by this process.