Abstract: In a toner having toner particles having at least a binder resin and a colorant, the binder resin in the toner contains at least i) a vinyl resin formed of a vinyl resin having at least a carboxyl group and a vinyl resin having at least an epoxy group, and having a cross-linked structure formed by the reaction of the carboxyl group of the former with the epoxy group of the latter, and ii) a copolymer having an aliphatic conjugated diene compound as a monomer component; and the binder resin in the toner has a THF-insoluble matter in a content of from 0.1% by weight to 60% by weight, and the copolymer having an aliphatic conjugated diene compound as a monomer component is incorporated in an o-dichlorobenzene-soluble matter of the THF-insoluble matter. This toner has superior developing stability and running performance in high-speed machines, and can keep fixing separation claws from contamination.

Abstract: A positively chargeable developer is provided which is capable of providing stable image quality without causing any image defect even in long-term use. The developer includes at least positively chargeable toner particles each containing at least a binder resin and magnetic iron oxide, silica and an inorganic fine powder. A unconfined yield strength at a major consolidation stress of 5 kPa of the developer is in the range of 0.1 to 2.5 kPa, and a unconfined yield strength at a major consolidation stress of 20 kPa of the developer is in the range of 2.5 to 5.5 kPa.

Abstract: To provide a toner which allows low temperature fixation irrespective of the configuration of a fuser, which is excellent in offset resistance, and which provides high image quality at high and low humidities in a stable manner without causing any image defect over time. A toner containing: a binder resin and a colorant; in which the toner contains a THF-soluble component to be dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF); the binder resin component contained in the THF-soluble component contains: a vinyl resin unit (I) formed by at least a carboxyl group-containing vinyl resin and an epoxy group-containing vinyl resin and having an epoxy value of 0.001 to 1.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a toner which allows fixation at low temperatures, which is excellent in anti-offset ability, and which provides a high quality image at high and low humidities in a stable manner without causing any image defect over time. Provided is a toner, containing at least a binder resin and a colorant in which: the binder resin in the toner contains 60% by mass or more of a styrene/acryl resin and a THF-insoluble fraction A which is an extraction residue obtained by carrying out Soxhlet extraction with tetrahydrofuran (THF) for 16 hours; the THF-insoluble fraction A contains a TOL-insoluble fraction B which is an extraction residue obtained by carrying out Soxhlet extraction with toluene (TOL) for 16 hours; and a mass ratio (B/A) between the THF-insoluble fraction A and the TOL-insoluble fraction B is in the range of 0.1?B/A?0.5.

Abstract: In a toner having toner particles having at least a binder resin and a colorant, the binder resin in the toner contains at least i) a vinyl resin formed of a vinyl resin having at least a carboxyl group and a vinyl resin having at least an epoxy group, and having a cross-linked structure formed by the reaction of the carboxyl group of the former with the epoxy group of the latter, and ii) a copolymer having an aliphatic conjugated diene compound as a monomer component; and the binder resin in the toner has a THF-insoluble matter in a content of from 0.1% by weight to 60% by weight, and the copolymer having an aliphatic conjugated diene compound as a monomer component is incorporated in an o-dichlorobenzene-soluble matter of the THF-insoluble matter. This toner has superior developing stability and running performance in high-speed machines, and can keep fixing separation claws from contamination.

Abstract: In a toner comprising a binder resin and a colorant, the toner contains as the binder resin at least a vinyl resin selected from the group consisting of i) a vinyl resin having a carboxyl group and a vinyl resin having an epoxy group, ii) a vinyl resin having a carboxyl group and an epoxy group and iii) a vinyl resin produced by the reaction of a carboxyl group with an epoxy group, and the toner has, in its dielectric dissipation factor (tan &dgr;), at least a maximum value and a minimum value in the temperature range of from 20° C. to 150° C., and, where the maximum value is represented by Max and the minimum value by Min, has a value of log10(Max/Min)≦2. Also disclosed are an image-forming apparatus, a process cartridge and an image-forming method which make use of the toner.

Abstract: A magnetic toner includes a magnetic toner particle containing a binding resin and a magnetic material. The magnetic material includes a magnetic iron oxide containing 0.10% to 4.00% by weight of an element &agr; belonging to the third period to the seventh period with an atomic number of 11 to 103 and having an electronegativity of 1.0 to 2.5. The solubility S1 of &agr; in the magnetic material at an iron solubility of 0% to 20% is from 10% to less than 44% and the solubility S2 of &agr; at an iron solubility of 80% to 100% is from 5% to less than 30%. The magnetic material contains at least 60% by number of multinuclear magnetic iron oxide particles or at least 60% by number of polyhedral magnetic iron oxide particles having faces at ridgeline portions of hexahedron and/or octahedron multinuclear magnetic iron oxide particles.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is formed of toner particles; wherein each toner particle includes (i) 100 wt. parts of a binder resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 50-70° C., (ii) 0.2-20 wt. parts of solid wax, and (iii) colorant particles or magnetic powder; (iv) lubricant particles carrying a liquid lubricant, so that the toner particle retains at its surface the liquid lubricant gradually released from the particles (iv). The toner may be further blended with an organically treated inorganic fine powder to provide a developer. The toner or developer retains good lubricity and releasability so that it is suitable to be used in an image forming method including means contacting a latent image-bearing means, such as a contact charging means, a contact transfer means or a contact cleaning means.

Abstract: In a toner comprising a binder resin and a colorant, the toner contains as the binder resin at least a vinyl resin selected from the group consisting of i) a vinyl resin having a carboxyl group and a vinyl resin having an epoxy group, ii) a vinyl resin having a carboxyl group and an epoxy group and iii) a vinyl resin produced by the reaction of a carboxyl group with an epoxy group, and the toner has, in its dielectric dissipation factor (tan &dgr;), at least a maximum value and a minimum value in the temperature range of from 20° C. to 150° C., and, where the maximum value is represented by Max and the minimum value by Min, has a value of log10(Max/Min)≦2. Also disclosed are an image-forming apparatus, a process cartridge and an image-forming method which make use of the toner.

Abstract: A supporting mechanism is provided to be moved between a disc insertion opening and a disc storing device, and a driving roller is rotatably mounted on the supporting mechanism for carrying a disc inserted in the opening toward the disc storing device. The supporting mechanism is moved between the opening and the disc storing device, and the driving roller is driven for carrying the disc from the opening to the disc storing device.

Abstract: A supporting means is provided to be moved between a disc insertion opening and a disc storing device, and a driving roller is rotatably mounted on the supporting means for carrying a disc inserted in the opening toward the disc storing device. The supporting means is moved between the opening and the disc storing means, and the driving roller is driven for carrying the disc from the opening to the disc storing device.

Abstract: A positively chargeable toner suitable to be carried on a cylindrical developer-carrying member having a resinous surface for developing an electrostatic latent image is formed from a composition including a binder resin, an imidazole compound and a colorant. The binder resin comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of (i) a mixture of vinyl resin having a carboxyl group and a vinyl resin having a glycidyl group, (ii) a vinyl resin having both a carboxyl group and a glycidyl group, and (iii) a vinyl resin having a carboxyl group and a glycidyl group in a form reacted with each other. The imidazole compound is a compound having an imidazo unit represented by formula (1) below: wherein R1-R4 independently denote hydrogen or a substituent as specified. In some cases, two or more such imidazole units can be included in a combined form to provide the imidazole compound.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner is formed of a resinous composition including a binder resin and a wax (A). The wax (A) contains at least 92 wt. % thereof of n (normal)-paraffin comprising a plurality of n-paraffin species having different numbers of carbon atoms, and provides a DSC (differential scanning calorimetry)-heat-absorption curve exhibiting a maximum heat-absorption peak showing a peaktop temperature of 70-90° C. and a half-value width of at most 12° C. As a result of the n-paraffin-rich characteristic and the DSC-thermal characteristic, the wax can exhibit an improved fixability-improving effect without showing an excessive plasticizing effect, whereby the toner can exhibit good fixability as well as good flowability and storage stability.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is formed of toner particles; wherein each toner particle includes (i) 100 wt. parts of a binder resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 50-70° C., (ii) 0.2-20 wt. parts of solid wax, and (iii) colorant particles or magnetic powder, (iv) lubricant particles carrying a liquid lubricant, so that the toner particle retains at its surface the liquid lubricant gradually released from the particles (iv). The toner may be further blended with an organically treated inorganic fine powder to provide a developer. The toner or developer retains good lubricity and releasability so that it is suitable to be used in an image forming method including means contacting a latent image-bearing means, such as a contact charging means, a contact transfer means or a contact cleaning means.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus with a plurality of disks arrayed and held therein selects a desired disk for reproduction from the arrayed disks. The disk reproducing apparatus includes an insertion slot which defines an insertion executable position, a disk holding device including a plurality of disks inserted through the insertion slot by arraying the disks in a direction perpendicular to main surfaces of the disks, the disk holding device being movable in a direction of arrangement of the disks, a disk reproducing device having upper and lower surfaces opposing in the direction of arrangement of the disks, the disk reproducing device being movable in the direction of arrangement of the disks, and reproducing a disk to be reproduced at a reproduction executable position at which the upper surface faces the disk to be reproduced.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner showing good cleanability and is suitable for use in developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an amorphous-silicon photosensitive member is provided. The toner includes toner particles each comprising a binder resin and a colorant, and inorganic fine powder A. The inorganic fine powder A contains 88.0-97.0 wt. % of a rare earth compound comprising a rare earth oxide. The rare earth compound contains 40.0-65.0 wt. % of Ce (calculated as CeO.sub.2), 25.0-45.0 wt. % of La (calculated as La.sub.2 O.sub.3), 1.0-10.0 wt. % of Nd (calculated as Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3) and 1.0-10.0 wt. % of Pr (calculated as Pr.sub.6 O.sub.11). The rare earth compound contains further a fluorinated rare earth compound in such an amount as to provide the inorganic fine powder A with a fluorine content of 2.0-11.0 wt. %.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image includes a binder resin, a colorant and a wax. The toner shows heat-absorption characteristics represented by a DSC heat-absorption curve obtained on temperature increase in a temperature range of 30-150.degree. C. by a differential scanning colorimeter (DSC). The DSC heat-absorption curve shows a maximum heat-absorption peak (P1) in a temperature range of 70-90.degree. C. The DSC curve also provides a differential curve showing a first maximum (Max1) on a lowest temperature side at a temperature (T1) of 50-65.degree. C., showing a second maximum (Max2) on a next lowest temperature side at a temperature (T2) of 65-85.degree. C., and showing a minimum (Min1) on a highest temperature side at a temperature (T3) of at least 95.degree. C. Because of the DSC heat-absorption characteristics, the toner exhibits excellent fixability (including anti-offset characteristic) over a wide temperature range and excellent continuous image forming characteristic.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image is formed of toner particles; wherein each toner particle includes (i) 100 wt. parts of a binder resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 50-70.degree. C., (ii) 0.2-20 wt. parts of solid wax, and (iii) colorant particles or magnetic powder carrying a liquid lubricant, so that the toner particle retains at its surface the liquid lubricant gradually released from the particles (iii). The toner may be further blended with an organically treated inorganic fine powder to provide a developer. The toner or developer retains good lubricity and releasability so that it is suitable to be used in an image forming method including means contacting a latent image-bearing means, such as a contact charging means, a contact transfer means or a contact cleaning means.

Abstract: A positive-chargeable toner is disclosed which has a binder resin, a colorant and a charge control agent. The binder resin contains a styrene copolymer and has an acid value of from 0.5 to 50.0 mg KOH/g, and the charge control agent has an imidazole derivative represented by the Formula (1). Also, an image forming method and an apparatus unit, making use of the positive-chargeable toner, are disclosed.

Abstract: In a disk reproducing apparatus a plurality of disks each carrying information recorded therein are inserted through an insertion opening and arrayed and held in a predetermined direction and a desired disk is selected for reproduction from the plurality of disks arrayed and held therein. The disk reproducing apparatus comprises a disk holding device including a plurality of trays arranged for holding thereon the plurality of disk respectively, a disk carrying device which carries the disk between the insertion opening and the tray, and a disk reproducing device which is carried to be positioned outside an area where a disk held by the disk reproducing device exists when the disk is not being reproduced and positioned that at least a portion is inside the area where the disk exists, when the disk is being reproduced. The disk carrying device and the disk reproducing device are juxtaposed in a direction in which disks are arrayed when the disk is not being reproduced.