Abstract: A toner suitable for use in electrophotography, etc., is composed of toner particles each containing a binder resin, a colorant and a wax component. The toner has a number-average particle size of 2-6 &mgr;m and a standard deviation in particle size of below 2.6 based on a number-basis distribution of circle-equivalent diameters, an average circularity of 0.970-0.995 and a standard deviation in circularity of below 0.030 based on a circularity frequency distribution, and a residual monomer content of at most 500 ppm. The toner particles have such a microtexture as to provide a particle cross section as observed through a transmission electron microscope (TEM) exhibiting a matrix of the binder resin and a particle of the wax dispersed in a discrete form in the matrix of the binder resin.

Abstract: An image forming method comprises the steps of charging an electrostatic latent image bearing member, imagewise exposing the charged electrostatic latent image bearing member to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner held on a toner holding member to form a toner image and transferring the toner image onto a transfer-receiving medium. The electrostatic latent image is developed by bringing a toner layer formed out of the toner held on the toner holding member into contact with the surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member. The toner has toner particles containing at least a colorant, a wax and a binder resin. The wax: (a) in a DSC curve measured by a differential scanning calorimeter, shows an endothermic peak in a region from 50° C. to 130° C.

Abstract: A method of detecting deficiency of an aperture used in a charged-particle-beam exposure process employing at least two exposure columns is disclosed, where each of the two exposure columns passes a charged-particle beam through the aperture formed through a mask to shape a cross section of the charged-particle beam before exposing the charged-particle beam onto an object. The method includes the steps of mounting masks having the same aperture to the at least two exposure columns; scanning, in each of the at least two exposure columns, the charged-particle beam over an area containing a mark on a surface substantially at the same height as the object after passing the charged-particle beam through the same aperture; obtaining, in each of the at least two exposure columns, a signal waveform corresponding to the scan by detecting charged particles scattered by the mark; and comparing the signal waveform between the at least two exposure columns.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to provide a toner excellent in transferability, little remaining on the photosensitive member and causing no defective image in roll-aided transfer (or at least such a phenomenon is well-controlled), and also to provide an image forming method using the same toner. The above objects are achieved when the toner contains a binder resin and colorant, inorganic fine particles, and a hydrotalcite compound shown by the formula: M1y12+M2y22+ . . . Mjyj2+L1x13+L2x23+ . . . Lkxk3+(OH)2.(X/n)An−.mH2O  (1) wherein 0<[X=(x1+x2+ . . . xk)]≦0.5; Y=(y1+y2+ . . . +yj)=1−X; j and k are each an integer of 2 or larger; M13+, M23+, . . . and Mj2+ are divalent metallic ions different from each other; L13+, L23+ . . .

Abstract: A toner suitable for use in electrophotography, etc., is composed of toner particles each containing a binder resin, a colorant and a wax component. Each toner particle has such a microtexture as to provide a cross section as observed through a transmission electron microscope (TEM) exhibiting a matrix of the binder resin, a particle of the wax enclosed with the matrix; and the binder resin dispersed in a particulate form in the wax particle, and the toner particles have a residual monomer content of at most 500 ppm by weight of the toner particles. The colorant may also be dispersed in the wax particle enclosed within the matrix of the binder resin.

Abstract: A method of detecting deficiency of an aperture used in a charged-particle-beam exposure process employing at least two exposure columns is disclosed, where each of the two exposure columns passes a charged-particle beam through the aperture formed through a mask to shape a cross section of the charged-particle beam before exposing the charged-particle beam onto an object. The method includes the steps of mounting masks having the same aperture to the at least two exposure columns; scanning, in each of the at least two exposure columns, the charged-particle beam over an area containing a mark on a surface substantially at the same height as the object after passing the charged-particle beam through the same aperture; obtaining, in each of the at least two exposure columns, a signal waveform corresponding to the scan by detecting charged particles scattered by the mark; and comparing the signal waveform between the at least two exposure columns.

Abstract: A toner for use in development of electrostatic latent images is disclosed. The toner has toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, a wax and a compound of Formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.4 each represent a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, inclusive of a condensed ring; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, inclusive of a condensed ring; M represents an element selected from B, Ti, Fe, Co, Cr, Al and Ni; and X.sup.n+ represents a cation. The toner has the shape factors SF-1 and SF-2 with the specified range. Further, disclosed are a process for producing the toner and an image forming method using the toner.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic images includes a binder resin, a specific long-chain alkyl compound and a specific azo iron complex. The long-chain alkyl compound contains a terminal --OH or --COOH group and from about 35 to 150 (--CH.sub.2 --) groups. The azo iron complex has a cation including 75-98 mol. % of ammonium ion and another ion which is hydrogen, sodium, potassium or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is composed of toner particles each containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax. The wax satisfies conditions of:(a) showing a maximum heat-absorption peak in a region of 50-130.degree. C. on temperature increase on a DSC (differential scanning calorimeter) curve, and(b) giving a .sup.13 C-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectrum showing a total peak area S in a range of 0-50 ppm, a total peak area S1 in a range of 36-42 ppm and a total peak area S2 in a range of 10-17 ppm satisfying:1.0.ltoreq.(S1/S).times.100.ltoreq.10, 1.5.ltoreq.(S2/S).times.100.ltoreq.15, and S1<S2.The wax satisfying the above-conditions has an appropriately branched long-chain structure and provides the toner with a good balance of good low-temperature fixability and anti-hot-temperature offset characteristic.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is composed of toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax composition. The wax composition comprises an ester wax (1) having a long-chain alkyl group, and a wax (2). The wax (2) shows a maximum heat-absorption peak in a range of 40-130.degree. C. on temperature increase on a DSC (differential scanning calorimeter) curve, and gives a .sup.13 C-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectrum showing a total peak area S in a range of 0-50 ppm, a total peak area S1 in a range of 36-42 ppm, and a total peak area S2 in a range of 10-17 ppm, satisfying: 1.0.ltoreq.(S1/S).times.100.ltoreq.10, 1.5.ltoreq.(S2/S).times.100.ltoreq.15, and S.sub.1 <S.sub.2. The toner particles contain A wt. parts of the ester wax (1), B wt. parts of the wax (2) and C wt. parts of the colorant, respectively per 100 wt. parts of the binder resin, satisfying: 3.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.30, 0.2.ltoreq.B.ltoreq.10, 4.ltoreq.A+B.ltoreq.40, 0.02.ltoreq.B/A.ltoreq.0.5, and 0.02.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image has toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax. The wax contains an ester compound represented by specific formula, or a mixture thereof at a content ranging from 50 to 100% by weight based on the weight of the wax.

Abstract: An image forming method includes charging an image carrier for carrying an electrostatic latent image;forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged image carrier;developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner by contacting a toner layer on a surface of a toner carrier with a surface of the image carrier to form a toner image thereon;copying the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier onto a copy medium;wherein the toner has toner particles containing at least a bonding resin, carbon black and an azo-based iron compound and inorganic fine powder;the carbon black having an average primary particles size within a range of from 25 to 80 nm; andthe azo-based iron compound having a specific structure.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is constituted by a composition containing a binder resin component and a coloring agent, wherein the binder resin component contains a low-molecular weight component having a molecular weight of at most 5.times.10.sup.4 and a branching index g' of below 1. The low-molecular weight polymer component is preferably obtained by polymerizing a second monomer in mixture with a prepolymer in the presence of a polymerization initiator comprising a peroxide having a functional group of: ##STR1## and mixed with a high-molecular weight polymer component obtained by polymerization in the presence of a poly-functional polymerization initiator, and a low-molecular weight wax. The resultant toner is characterized by a good balance between the fixability and anti-offset characteristic.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is comprised of a binder resin, a colorant and a wax. The toner has the following rheological characteristics: (a) a temperature at which the ratio of a loss elastic modulus to a storage elastic modulus (G"/G'=tan .delta.) comes to be 1.0 is present in a temperature range of from 55.degree. C. to 70.degree. C., with an elastic modulus being 1.5.times.10.sup.8 Pa or below; (b) the ratio of the storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 40.degree. C. (G'.sub.40) to the storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 50.degree. C. (G'.sub.50), G'.sub.40 /G'.sub.50, is from 1.5 to 5.0; (c) the ratio of the storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 50.degree. C. (G'.sub.50) to the storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 60.degree. C. (G'.sub.60), G'.sub.50 /G'.sub.60, is from 3 to 20; (d) the ratio of the storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 70.degree. C. (G'.sub.70) to the storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 100.degree. C. (G'.sub.100), G'.sub.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic images is formed from toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax. The binder resin comprises a vinyl polymer component and a polyester component. The binder resin contains 40-99 wt. % of a component A, 0-20 wt. % of a component B, and 0-60 wt. % of a component C, the components B and C providing totally 1-60 wt. % of the binder resin. The component A comprises low- and medium-molecular weight components having molecular weights of below 10.sup.6, and the component B comprises high-molecular weight components having molecular weights of at least 106, respectively, based on a chromatogram obtained by gel permeation chromatography of a tetrahydrofuran (THF)-soluble component of the binder resin, and the component C is a THF-insoluble component of the binder resin. The GPC chromatogram of the THF-soluble component of the binder resin exhibits a main peak in a molecular weight region of 3.times.10.sup.3 -5.times.10.sup.4.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner composition suitable for heat-fixation and showing good storage characteristics is constituted by polymer components, a colorant and a metal-containing organic compound. The toner composition shows a melt index (at 125.degree. C., 10 kg-load) of 5-25 g/10 min., and the polymer components are characterized by (a) containing substantially no THF (tetrahydrofuran)-insoluble content, (b) including a THF-soluble content thereof providing a GPC (gel permeation chromatography) chromatogram showing i) a main peak in a molecular weight region of 2.times.10.sup.3 -3.times.10.sup.4, and a sub-peak or shoulder in a molecular weight region of at least 10.sup.5, and ii) an areal percentage of 3-10% in a molecular weight region of at least 10.sup.6, and (c) including a polymer component (H) in a molecular weight region of at least 10.sup.5 obtained by polymerization using a polyfunctional polymerization initiator and a mono-functional polymerization initiator.

Abstract: The present invention relates a toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising: a resin composition, which contains a binder resin and low molecular weight wax, and a coloring agent, wherein the binder resin does not substantially contain insoluble tetrahydrofuran (THF) component, its chromatograph measured with soluble tetrahydrofuran (THF) component has a main peak in a region of a molecular weight of 2,000 to 30,000 and a subpeak or a shoulder in a high molecular weight region of a molecular weight of 100,000 or more, a ratio of weight average molecular weight (Mw)/number average molecular weight (Mn) thereof is 30 or more, the high molecular weight region has a crosslinking monomer unit as a component monomer unit and the binder resin contains high molecular weight polymer having a Mw of 1,200,000 or more polymerized by using both polyfunctional initiator and a mono-functional initiator. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a resin composition for producing a toner.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic images, includes toner particles and 10-500 isolated low-molecular weight wax particles per 10,000 toner particles. The toner has a melt index as measured at 125.degree. C. under a load of 98 N of at least 10. The toner particles comprise at least a binder resin, a colorant and the low-molecular weight wax. The low-molecular weight wax comprises a compound represented by the formula of: R--Y, wherein R denotes a hydrocarbon group, and Y denotes a hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, alkyl ether group or alkyl ester group. The low-molecular weight wax has a thermal property providing a DSC curve as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter exhibiting: (i) a maximum heat-absorption peak having a peak temperature in a temperature range of 70.degree.-130.degree. C.; (ii) a heat-absorption peak including the maximum heat-absorption peak showing an onset temperature of at least 50.degree. C., and (iii) a maximum heat-evolution peak in a range of .+-.15.degree. C.

Abstract: By using a blanking aperture array BAA, the density of the bit map data in the portions where adjacent areas are linked is decreased toward the outside. On the lower surface of the holder of the BAA chip, a ball grid array wired to blanking electrodes is formed, to be pressed in contact against pads on a wiring base board. The registered bit map data for an isosceles right triangle are read out from address A=A0+?RA.multidot.i! (A0 and i are integers, ? ! is an operator for integerizing), masked, and then shifted by bits to be deformed. From registered bit map data for proximity effect correction, the area which corresponds to the size of the object of correction and the required degree of proximity affect correction is extracted, and logic operation with the bit map data of the object of correction is performed to achieve proximity affect correction.

Abstract: A method of detecting deficiency of an aperture used in a charged-particle-beam exposure process employing at least two exposure columns is disclosed, where each of the two exposure columns passes a charged-particle beam through the aperture formed through a mask to shape a cross section of the charged-particle beam before exposing the charged-particle beam onto an object. The method includes the steps of mounting masks having the same aperture to the at least two exposure columns; scanning, in each of the at least two exposure columns, the charged-particle beam over an area containing a mark on a surface substantially at the same height as the object after passing the charged-particle beam through the same aperture; obtaining, in each of the at least two exposure columns, a signal waveform corresponding to the scan by detecting charged particles scattered by the mark; and comparing the signal waveform between the at least two exposure columns.