Abstract: A cleaning blade includes a contact layer that is in contact with a toner image carrier, and a support layer that joins to a support member, wherein the contact layer does not contain an inorganic filler, the support layer contains an inorganic filler having a thermal conductivity (?) of 30 W/mK or more, and the average particle diameter of the inorganic filler is in a range of 0.1 to 5.0 ?m.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a blade for cleaning a toner image retainer, the method including: binding an abutting layer that abuts against the toner image retainer and a supporting layer that supports the abutting layer, wherein the maximum value D of a difference between a first loss tangent at 1 Hz and a second loss tangent at 100 Hz of the blade that includes the abutting layer and the supporting layer satisfies the formula: 0.2?D?0.7, wherein the maximum value D is a maximum value of a difference between the first loss tangent and the second loss tangent at temperatures within a range of 0° C. to 50° C.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a blade for cleaning a toner image retainer, the method including: binding an abutting layer that abuts against the toner image retainer and a supporting layer that supports the abutting layer, wherein the maximum value D of a difference between a first loss tangent (Tan ?) at 1 Hz and a second loss tangent at 100 Hz of the blade that includes the abutting layer and the supporting layer satisfies formula (1): [Mathematical Formula 1] 0.2?D?0.7??(1) wherein the maximum value D is a maximum value of a difference between the first loss tangent and the second loss tangent at temperatures within a range of 0° C. to 50° C.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning member including a urethane rubber, wherein the urethane rubber has a cyclic structure portion in which a fluorine atom is directly bonded to the cyclic structure portion.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning member including a urethane rubber, wherein the urethane rubber has a cyclic structure portion in which a fluorine atom is directly bonded to the cyclic structure portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid lubricant to be coated on an image bearing member included in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The solid lubricant contains a resin particle and metal soap. The resin particle includes a particle body containing an amorphous resin as a principal component, and a fluorine atom supported on a surface of the particle body. The resin particle is a particle having a volume average particle size of 70 nm or more. The solid lubricant can sufficiently increase a cleaning effect in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid lubricant to be coated on an image bearing member included in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The solid lubricant contains a resin particle and metal soap. The resin particle includes a particle body containing an amorphous resin as a principal component, and a fluorine atom supported on a surface of the particle body. The resin particle is a particle having a volume average particle size of 70 nm or more. The solid lubricant can sufficiently increase a cleaning effect in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A solid lubricant to be applied onto an image carrier of an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system, includes a metal soap and resin particles, and the resin particles have a particle main body constituted by a rigid resin other than fluorine-based resins, and fluorine atoms carried on the surface of the particle main body.

Abstract: A method of producing, in a liquid, a hollow particulate material having a cavity therein, the method including: (A) blowing gas into a resin solution containing a first dispersion medium; (B) pouring the resin solution to which the gas is blown in step (A) into a second dispersion medium to form liquid droplets encapsulating the gas and prepare a dispersion of the liquid droplets; and (C) solidifying the liquid droplets formed in step (B) and isolating the solidified liquid droplets from the second dispersion medium.

Abstract: A solid lubricant to be applied onto an image carrier of an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system, includes a metal soap and resin particles, and the resin particles have a particle main body constituted by a rigid resin other than fluorine-based resins, and fluorine atoms carried on the surface of the particle main body.

Abstract: A solid lubricant is supplied to a surface of an image carrier of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The solid lubricant contains a fatty acid metal salt and polypropylene, and the polypropylene has an acid value of 1 mg KOH/g or more. The solid lubricant is a solid substance of a melt mold containing the fatty acid metal salt and the polypropylene.

Abstract: Provided is a method for the production of a hollow particle, which can easily produce a hollow particle having plural spaces formed inside. The method for the production of a hollow particle is a method for the production of a hollow particle having plural spaces inside thereof, which comprises dispersing an oil-phase liquid prepared by dissolving or dispersing a polymerizable monomer and an oil-soluble polymerization initiator having polymerization initiation ability for the polymerizable monomer in a hydrophobic solvent, in an aqueous medium containing a water-soluble polymerization initiator having polymerization initiation ability for the polymerizable monomer, to form an oil droplet; and applying the oil-soluble polymerization initiator and the water-soluble polymerization initiator at the same time to the polymerizable monomer, and polymerizing the polymerizable monomer, to form a shell dividing plural spaces in a particle.

Abstract: A solid lubricant containing a fatty acid metal salt and a polyethylene having an acid value is prepared. The solid lubricant is disposed so as to be applied on a surface of an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus in electrophotography, and a lubricant layer is formed on the surface of the image bearing member with the solid lubricant.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator incorporated in a cleaning device disposed in an image forming apparatus having an image bearing member on which an image containing toner is formed, includes: a lubricant supplying unit that supplies lubricant; a brush roller that scrapes off the lubricant to apply the lubricant to a surface of the image bearing member; and a flicker member positioned on an upstream side from the lubricant supplying unit in a rotation direction of the brush roller, the flicker member coming into contact with the brush roller, wherein the flicker member is a plate-shaped member in which an opening is formed, the flicker member having elasticity to be allowed to elastically rock by coming into contact with the brush roller, and the opening is formed in a region with which the brush roller comes into contact.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a solid lubricant supplied to a surface of an image carrier of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the solid lubricant comprises a fatty acid metal salt and polypropylene, and the polypropylene has an acid value of 1 mg KOH/g or more.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator incorporated in a cleaning device disposed in an image forming apparatus having an image bearing member on which an image containing toner is formed, includes: a lubricant supplying unit that supplies lubricant; a brush roller that scrapes off the lubricant to apply the lubricant to a surface of the image bearing member; and a flicker member positioned on an upstream side from the lubricant supplying unit in a rotation direction of the brush roller, the flicker member coming into contact with the brush roller, wherein the flicker member is a plate-shaped member in which an opening is formed, the flicker member having elasticity to be allowed to elastically rock by coming into contact with the brush roller, and the opening is formed in a region with which the brush roller comes into contact.

Abstract: A solid lubricant containing a fatty acid metal salt and a polyethylene having an acid value is prepared. The solid lubricant is disposed so as to be applied on a surface of an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus in electrophotography, and a lubricant layer is formed on the surface of the image bearing member with the solid lubricant.

Abstract: A method of producing, in a liquid, a hollow particulate material having a cavity therein, the method including: (A) blowing gas into a resin solution containing a first dispersion medium; (B) pouring the resin solution to which the gas is blown in step (A) into a second dispersion medium to form liquid droplets encapsulating the gas and prepare a dispersion of the liquid droplets; and (C) solidifying the liquid droplets formed in step (B) and isolating the solidified liquid droplets from the second dispersion medium.

Abstract: Provided is a method for the production of a hollow particle, which can easily produce a hollow particle having plural spaces formed inside. The method for the production of a hollow particle is a method for the production of a hollow particle having plural spaces inside thereof, which comprises dispersing an oil-phase liquid prepared by dissolving or dispersing a polymerizable monomer and an oil-soluble polymerization initiator having polymerization initiation ability for the polymerizable monomer in a hydrophobic solvent, in an aqueous medium containing a water-soluble polymerization initiator having polymerization initiation ability for the polymerizable monomer, to form an oil droplet; and applying the oil-soluble polymerization initiator and the water-soluble polymerization initiator at the same time to the polymerizable monomer, and polymerizing the polymerizable monomer, to form a shell dividing plural spaces in a particle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an organic photoreceptor comprising on an electrically conductive support a light-sensitive layer and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer comprises a resin formed by curing a photocurable compound containing at least one polar group and at least one photocurable-functional group and a particulate metal oxide having a water absorption of 0.1 to 10%. There are also disclosed an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge.