Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that includes: first and second electrostatic latent image bearers; first and second electrostatic latent image forming devices; first and second developing devices configured to develop first and second electrostatic latent images with a colored toner and a special-color toner to form a colored toner image and a special-color toner image, respectively; a primary transfer device configured to transfer the colored toner image and the special-color toner image onto an intermediate image bearer in an overlapping manner to form a composite toner image; a secondary transfer device configured to transfer the composite toner image onto a recording medium; and a fixing device configured to fix the composite toner image thereon. The special-color toner comprises plate-like and/or film-like pigments. An absolute difference in volume resistivity between the special-color toner and the colored toner is 0.30 log ? cm or less.

Abstract: A toner is provided that contains a crystalline polyester resin comprising a polycondensed resin of a dicarboxylic acid represented by the following formula (1) with a diol represented by the following formula (2). A content of a cyclic ester represented by the following formula (3) in the toner, measured by a thermal extraction gas chromatographic mass spectrometry at a thermal extraction temperature of 160° C., is from 1 to 200 ppm in terms of toluene: where n represents an integer of from 2 to 12; where m represents an integer of from 2 to 12; and where n represents an integer of from 2 to 12, m represents an integer of from 2 to 12, and m+n?6 is satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cutter knife, which even if made with only the metal parts, smoothness of sliding operation of the blade is not degraded in time, even without lubricating oil nor friction resistant coating, A slider of the cutter knife carries rolling member, which is made rolling contact with the outer surface of the cutter knife. Further, the slider has a protrusion which extends into the cutter knife body and is engaged into a hole formed on the blade. Since an external force applied onto the slider is received by the rolling member, the slider can be operated smoothly. Besides, the height of the protrusion is determined, such that the protrusion does not touch the inner surface of the cutter knife. Thus, the protrusion tip never interfere with the inner surface of the cutter knife, thereby the sliding operation of the slider would not be prevented.

Abstract: A cleaner, such as provided in a particulate material production apparatus, for cleaning a droplet ejector, which includes nozzles to eject a particulate material composition liquid as droplets, and a nozzle plate bearing the nozzles. A substantially closed cleaning space is formed outside the nozzles and the nozzle plate, and a first cleaning liquid supplying device supplies a first cleaning liquid to the cleaning space so that the nozzles and the nozzle plate are contacted with the first cleaning liquid. In addition, a vibrator vibrates the first cleaning liquid when the nozzles and the nozzle plate are contacted with the first cleaning liquid to clean the nozzles and the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A toner includes a binder resin. Particles of a metal complex or a salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid derivative having a number-average particle diameter of from 0.2 ?m to 1.0 ?m are present on the surface of the toner. A coverage of the particles of a metal complex or a salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid derivative over the surface of the toner is from 10% to 50%.

Abstract: A toner fixable on an image bearer with heat. The toner has a first storage modulus of from 1×103 to 1×106 Pa, measured at 100° C. when being heated, and a second storage modulus of from 1×103 to 1×106 Pa, measured at 100° C. when being cooled, the first storage modulus and second storage modulus being measured by a rheometer, and the second storage modulus at 100° C. when being cooled is higher than the first storage modulus at 100° C. when being heated.

Abstract: An image forming method is provided. The method includes the steps of forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor; developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image with a toner; transferring the toner image onto a recording medium having a smoothness of 20 s or less; and fixing the toner image on the recording medium. The toner exhibits an adhesion force of 100 gf or more, where the adhesion force is the maximum value of a pull force between a layer of the toner and standard paper determined by a tacking test with a probe temperature of 140° C.

Abstract: Provided is a toner containing a binder resin. The binder resin contains a crystalline resin. The toner has a maximum endothermic peak temperature (P1) of from 50° C. to 80° C. and a total endothermic amount (Q) of from 35 J/g to 90 J/g at a first temperature elevation of differential scanning calorimetry. A ratio (Qp/Q) of a total endothermic amount (Qp) of the toner in a temperature range of from 20° C. to the maximum endothermic peak temperature (P1) to the total endothermic amount (Q) of the toner is from 0.65 to 0.83.

Abstract: A toner includes a binder resin. Particles of a metal complex or a salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid derivative having a number-average particle diameter of from 0.2 ?m to 1.0 ?m are present on the surface of the toner. A coverage of the particles of a metal complex or a salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid derivative over the surface of the toner is from 10% to 50%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cutter knife, which even if made with only the metal parts, smoothness of sliding operation of the blade is not degraded in time, even without lubricating oil nor friction resistant coating, A slider of the cutter knife carries rolling member, which is made rolling contact with the outer surface of the cutter knife. Further, the slider has a protrusion which extends into the cutter knife body and is engaged into a hole formed on the blade. Since an external force applied onto the slider is received by the rolling member, the slider can be operated smoothly. Besides, the height of the protrusion is determined, such that the protrusion does not touch the inner surface of the cutter knife. Thus, the protrusion tip never interfere with the inner surface of the cutter knife, thereby the sliding operation of the slider would not be prevented.

Abstract: A cleaning method for cleaning a droplet ejector, which includes nozzles to eject a particulate material composition liquid, and a nozzle plate bearing the nozzles is provided. The cleaning method includes forming a substantially closed cleaning space outside the nozzles and the nozzle plate; supplying a cleaning liquid to the cleaning space so that the nozzles and the nozzle plate are contacted with the cleaning liquid; and vibrating the cleaning liquid when the nozzles and the nozzle plate are contacted with the cleaning liquid to clean the nozzles and the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A toner, including: base particles containing a polyester resin, a colorant, and a release agent, wherein the toner has a glass transition temperature (Tg1st) of 20° C. to 50° C. where the glass transition temperature (Tg1st) is measured in first heating of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the toner, wherein tetrahydrofuran (THF) insoluble matter of the toner has a glass transition temperature [Tg2nd (THF insoluble matter)] of 30° C. or lower where the glass transition temperature [Tg2nd (THF insoluble to matter)] is measured in second heating of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the THF insoluble matter, and wherein 50% or less of the colorant is present within a region of 1,000 nm from a surface of each of the base particles toward a center thereof.

Abstract: A polyethylene fiber characterized by having an intrinsic viscosity [?] of 0.8 dL/g or more and less than 5 dL/g; being composed of a repeating unit substantially derived from ethylene; having pores formed inside of the fiber; having an average diameter of the pores of ranging from 3 nm to 1 ?m when the diameter is measured, by each pore being approximated by a column, at a contact angle of 140 degrees, in a mercury intrusion method; a porosity of the pores of ranging from 1.5% to 20%; and having a tensile strength greater than or equal to 8 cN/dtex.

Abstract: A cleaning method for cleaning a droplet ejector, which includes nozzles to eject a particulate material composition liquid, and a nozzle plate bearing the nozzles is provided. The cleaning method includes forming a substantially closed cleaning space outside the nozzles and the nozzle plate; supplying a cleaning liquid to the cleaning space so that the nozzles and the nozzle plate are contacted with the cleaning liquid; and vibrating the cleaning liquid when the nozzles and the nozzle plate are contacted with the cleaning liquid to clean the nozzles and the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A toner fixable on an image bearer with heat. The toner has a first storage modulus of from 1×103 to 1×106 Pa, measured at 100° C. when being heated, and a second storage modulus of from 1×103 to 1×106 Pa, measured at 100° C. when being cooled, the first storage modulus and second storage modulus being measured by a rheometer, and the second storage modulus at 100° C. when being cooled is higher than the first storage modulus at 100° C. when being heated.

Abstract: An image forming method is provided. The method includes the steps of forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor; developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image with a toner; transferring the toner image onto a recording medium having a smoothness of 20 s or less; and fixing the toner image on the recording medium. The toner exhibits an adhesion force of 100 gf or more, where the adhesion force is the maximum value of a pull force between a layer of the toner and standard paper determined by a tacking test with a probe temperature of 140° C.

Abstract: A particulate material production method is provided. The particulate material production method includes ejecting a particulate material composition liquid, which includes an organic solvent and a particulate material composition including at least a resin and dissolved or dispersed in the organic solvent, from at least one nozzle to form droplets of the particulate material composition liquid in a gas phase; and solidifying the droplets of the particulate material composition liquid to prepare particles of the particulate material composition. The droplet solidifying step includes contacting the droplets with a poor solvent for the particulate material composition.

Abstract: Toner contains a binder resin containing a crystalline resin having a urethane and/or urea bonding; and a colorant, wherein in a diffraction spectrum of the toner as measured by an X-ray diffraction instrument, a ratio {C/(C+A)} of an integral intensity C of the spectrum derived from the crystalline structure to an integral intensity A of the spectrum derived from the non-crystalline structure is 0.12 or greater, wherein the toner satisfies the following relation 1: T1?T2?30° C. (Relation 1), where T1 represents the maximum endothermic peak in the first temperature rising from 0° C. to 100° C. at the temperature rising rate of 10° C./min and T2 represents the maximum exothermic peak in the first temperature falling from 100° C. to 0° C. at the temperature falling rate of 10° C./min as T1 and T2 are measured by diffraction scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Abstract: The particulate material production method includes vibrating a particulate material composition liquid in a liquid column resonance chamber having at least one nozzle to form a standing wave in the particulate material composition liquid caused by liquid column resonance, so that droplets of the particulate material composition liquid are ejected in a droplet ejection direction from the nozzle so as to fly in a space in a flight direction; feeding a gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to the droplet ejection direction to change the flight direction of the ejected droplets; and solidifying the droplets in the space to produce a particulate material. The particulate material composition liquid includes at least a solvent and a component of the particulate material dissolved or dispersed in the solvent, and the nozzle is located at a location corresponding to an anitnode of the standing wave.