Abstract: In a raw material mixing step, toner raw materials containing polymerizable monomers, colorant, and a release agent are mixed. In an emulsifying step, the mixture is emulsified under pressure to obtain a polymerizable composition. In a cooling step, the polymerizable composition is cooled down. In a depressurizing step, the polymerizable composition cooled down is depressurized. The polymerizable composition thus obtained has the colorant and the release agent evenly and finely dispersed therein. In a polymerizing step, the polymerizable composition is subjected to polymerization reaction. Toner particles are thus obtained which have uniform final sizes and exhibit a sharp particle size distribution.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing aggregate particles capable of obtaining aggregate particles having high mechanical strength, small particle size, with narrow particle size distribution width by preventing interfusion of bubbles in the aggregate particles during stirring is provided. Aggregate particles are manufactured by stirring a resin particle slurry including resin particles dispersed in an aqueous medium and contained in a stirring vessel by a stirring section having a impeller and two or more screen members disposed so as to surround the impeller in the stirring vessel and each formed with a plurality of slits and aggregating the resin particles.

Abstract: A functional particle is manufactured by a method including an aggregating step, a depressurizing step, and a cooling step. In the aggregating step, the functional particle is obtained by flowing a mixed slurry containing a core particle and a shell particle through a coiled pipeline while heating the mixed slurry to a glass transition temperature or higher of the core particle, to deposit the shell particles on the surface of the core particle. In the depressurizing step, the grain size of the functional particle is controlled and the coarse particle is pulverized to make the grain size of the functional particles uniform. In the cooling step, re-aggregation of the functional particles with unified grain size is prevented.

Abstract: A toner in form of aggregate of resin-containing particles is manufactured by aggregating the resin-containing particles which contain binder resin and the colorant, with the aid of an aggregate dispersant containing a polymer in which anionic polar groups are bonded to a main chain. To be specific, salt of divalent or higher valent metal is added to a slurry of the resin-containing particles so that a metal ion and the anionic polar group are bonded to each other, and a temperature of the slurry is increased so that a bond between the anionic polar group and a water molecule is broken. This decreases water-solubility of the polymer so that the resin-containing particles are aggregated.

Abstract: The aggregated particles are manufactured through a method of manufacturing aggregated particles, which includes an aggregating step, a depressurizing step, and a cooling step. In the aggregating step, a slurry is prepared which contains aggregated particles obtained by flowing an aqueous slurry of resin fine particles having a volume average particle diameter in the range of 0.4 ?m to 3 ?m through a coiled piping in a heated and pressurized state and thereby aggregating the resin fine particles. In the depressurizing step, the slurry containing the aggregated particles is depressurized, and a particle size control is conducted by disintegrating coarse particles so as to homogenize particle diameters of the aggregated particles. In the cooling step, the slurry containing the aggregated particles of which particle diameters have been homogenized is cooled.

Abstract: A toner manufacturing method that allows production of toner having desired characteristics with stability in accordance with fusion emulsification technique for obtaining a toner by granulating a resin kneaded product while dispersing it in an aqueous medium. A resin kneaded product containing at least a binder resin and a colorant is mixed with a dispersant/water-containing aqueous medium. The resultant admixture is stirred by an stirring apparatus including a screen with an admixture discharge hole disposed internally of a vessel and a rotor disposed in an stirring space created by the screen.

Abstract: A toner for electrostatic image development, comprising an organic pigment and a binding resin, and satisfying the formula (I): 1?R/A?0.014C ??(I), wherein A represents an entire area of a graph (x-axis: wavelength of a visible radiation region (380 to 780 nm), y-axis: transmittance (0 to 100%)) showing a spectral transmittance curve of a supernatant fluid, the supernatant fluid being obtained by subjecting the toner to an extraction process, the extraction process using a supercritical fluid; R represents an area determined by a Rectangular method on the basis of a spectral transmittance curve in the graph; and C represents a concentration (wt %) of the organic pigment in the toner, the organic pigment having a particle diameter of 1/10 to 1/2 (1/10 to 4/7 when the organic pigment is an organic yellow pigment) of a maximum absorption wavelength of the organic pigment, and the toner having a haze of 16 or less.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a developing agent comprising dissolving a binder resin component in a supercritical fluid or a subcritical fluid, mixing it with a colorant component, reducing the solubility of the binder resin component in the supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid, and causing the binder resin component to be deposited in the form of particles while the colorant component is dispersed within the binder resin component. After the pressure within a reaction vessel is decreased from A (MPa) to B (MPa) (where A>B>critical pressure) following the manufacture of a developing agent, the method proceeds back to a developing agent manufacturing step again when at least a developing agent material and a supercritical fluid or a subcritical fluid are injected into the reaction vessel under high pressure.

Abstract: A two-component developer and an image formation method for two-component development type are provided. With this developer and this method, even if toners have a small grain diameter and a high density of pigments for economizing the toner consumption, cracking and toner spent caused by the stress from carriers are suppressed, so that less deteriorated and stabler images can be obtained throughout a long time period. The two-component developer includes toner particles containing at least a binding resin and a pigment. A mean volume particle diameter of the toner particles is between 5.51 ?m and 7 ?m. A number percent of the toner particles with a mean volume particle diameter of 5 ?m or below, and a volume percent of the toner particles with a mean volume particle diameter between 8 ?m and 12.7 ?m, with respect to the total toner particles, respectively, are set to be within a predetermined range. Density of the pigment in the toner particles is between 8 weight percent and 20 weight percent.

Abstract: A two-component developer and an image formation method for two-component development type are provided. With this developer and this method, even if toners have a small grain diameter and a high density of pigments for economizing the toner consumption, cracking and toner spent caused by the stress from carriers are suppressed, so that less deteriorated and stabler images can be obtained throughout a long time period. The two-component developer includes toner particles containing at least a binding resin and a pigment. A mean volume particle diameter of the toner particles is between 5.5 ?m and 7 ?m. A number percent of the toner particles with a mean volume particle diameter of 5 ?m or below, and a volume percent of the toner particles with a mean volume particle diameter between 8 ?m and 12.7 ?m, with respect to the total toner particles, respectively, are set to be within a predetermined range. Density of the pigment in the toner particles is between 8 weight percent and 20 weight percent.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a developer, which can manufacture a developer having a uniform and fine particle shape in a narrow particle size distribution and having a coloring agent highly dispersed therein at the primary particle level, the method and apparatus at the same time enabling continuous and efficient production without opening and closing a reactor. The method comprises the steps of: dissolving a binding resin component in a supercritical or subcritical fluid so that the binding resin component is blended with a coloring agent component; and reducing the solubility of the binding resin component in the supercritical or subcritical fluid so that the binding resin component is precipitated in the form of particles with the coloring agent component dispersed in the interior thereof.

Abstract: A vacuum forming apparatus has a first mold and a second mold, the first mold including a forming surface. The first mold has a hollow space defined therein and communicating with the forming surface through holes defined in the first mold. The hollow space is connected to a vacuum pump for developing a vacuum in the hollow space to attract a sheet against the forming surface through the holes. The second mold has a presser including a cylinder which displaces a cutter having a serrated trimming blade of the second mold. The presser has an upper groove which accommodates teeth of the serrated trimming blade. The first mold has a lower groove for receiving the teeth of the serrated trimming blade when it is displaced downwardly by the cylinder.