Abstract: A developing member is disclosed which can lessen the occurring of banding. The developing member has a shaft member, an elastic layer provided on the shaft member, and a resin layer provided on the surface, wherein the resin layer contains a urethane resin and a non-reactive silicone compound, and the non-reactive silicone compound has a polyether moiety whose total number of carbon atoms ranges from 3 to 9.

Abstract: A developing roller having an elastic layer on the outer periphery of a mandrel and having a surface layer containing a resin and resin particles on its outer periphery, wherein the surface layer has a convex portion attributable to the resin particles, and has a surface of roughness in which a distortion degree Rsk of a roughness curve is 0.15 or more and 0.70 or less, wherein the resin particles have a peak P1 at a particle diameter d1 in a volume particle size distribution, and wherein “a”, “b”, “c”, d1, d2 and d3 satisfy a specific relationship, where, “a” denotes a volume fraction of the resin particle having the particle diameter d1 in the volume particle size distribution, and “b” and “c” denote volume fractions at particle diameters d2 and d3 respectively in the volume particle size distribution.

Abstract: A developing roller having an elastic layer on the outer periphery of a mandrel and having a surface layer containing a resin and resin particles on its outer periphery, wherein the surface layer has a convex portion attributable to the resin particles, and has a surface of roughness in which a distortion degree Rsk of a roughness curve is 0.15 or more and 0.70 or less, wherein the resin particles have a peak P1 at a particle diameter dl in a volume particle size distribution, and wherein “a”, “b”, “c”, d1, d2 and d3 satisfy a specific relationship, where, “a” denotes a volume fraction of the resin particle having the particle diameter dl in the volume particle size distribution, and “b” and “c” denote volume fractions at particle diameters d2 and d3 respectively in the volume particle size distribution.

Abstract: A toner formed of at least a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent and a wax, is provided with a uniform state of dispersion of the wax and good balance of low-temperature fixability and anti-high-temperature offset characteristic, while exhibiting good developing performances over wide environmental conditions. The toner is characterized in that (a) the binder resin comprises a hybrid resin component having a polyester unit and a vinyl polymer unit, (b) the toner exhibits a loss tangent (tan ?) of 1.0 at a temperature in a range of 80-160° C., and (c) the toner provides a DSC curve showing a heat-absorption peak in a temperature range of 85-130° C. on temperature increase as measured according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic endless belt exhibiting high uniformity in transfer and high stability in running, and an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic endless belt. The present invention provides: an electrophotographic endless belt formed of a thermoplastic resin composition, characterized in that, assuming that the maximum heating shrinkage factor when a slice of the electrophotographic endless belt is hot-pressed in a temperature range higher than a melting point of the thermoplastic resin composition by 10° C. to 120° C. is L (%), 15?L?80 is established, and assuming that the maximum tensile rupture distortion attained by performing a heating tensile test using a slice hot-pressed at a temperature giving the maximum heating shrinkage factor in a temperature range of 80° C. to 200° C. is S, 0.10?(S+1)/L?0.

Abstract: A developing roller having an elastic layer on the outer periphery of a mandrel and having a surface layer containing a resin and resin particles on its outer periphery, wherein the surface layer has a convex portion attributable to the resin particles, and has a surface of roughness in which a distortion degree Rsk of a roughness curve is 0.15 or more and 0.70 or less, wherein the resin particles have a peak P1 at a particle diameter d1 in a volume particle size distribution, and wherein “a”, “b”, “c”, d1, d2 and d3 satisfy a specific relationship, where, “a” denotes a volume fraction of the resin particle having the particle diameter d1 in the volume particle size distribution, and “b” and “c” denote volume fractions at particle diameters d2 and d3 respectively in the volume particle size distribution.

Abstract: A developing member is disclosed which can lessen the occurring of banding. The developing member has a shaft member, an elastic layer provided on the shaft member, and a resin layer provided on the surface, wherein the resin layer contains a urethane resin and a non-reactive silicone compound, and the non-reactive silicone compound has a polyether moiety whose total number of carbon atoms ranges from 3 to 9.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic conductive member composed of at least a thermoplastic resin composition, the thermoplastic resin composition contains a thermoplastic resin, a conductive filler and a conductive-filler dispersing agent, and the conductive-filler dispersing agent is a polyhydric alcohol type nonionic surface-active agent.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrophotographic seamless belt, includes setting a substantially cylindrical preform made of a thermoplastic resin mixture containing a thermoplastic resin and having an outer diameter “a”, in a seamless belt molding die including a cylindrical cavity having an inner diameter “b”, and stretch blow molding at a predetermined stretch temperature T1 to obtain a stretch-blow-molded part; and cutting the stretch-blow-molded part to obtain a seamless belt. The thermoplastic resin mixture has a temperature T2 at which a parameter S/P calculated from a tensile-stress to strain curve obtained by performing a JIS K7161 test on a sheet test piece made of the thermoplastic resin mixture is 2.0 to 15.0 T2 is set as the predetermined stretch temperature T1. P indicates stress when a stretch magnification is 0.6×(b/a) and S indicates stress when the stretch magnification is 1.6×(b/a) and (b/a)?1.7.

Abstract: A toner formed of at least a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent and a wax, is provided with a uniform state of dispersion of the wax and good balance of low-temperature fixability and anti-high-temperature offset characteristic, while exhibiting good developing performances over wide environmental conditions. The toner is characterized in that (a) the binder resin comprises a hybrid resin component having a polyester unit and a vinyl polymer unit, (b) the toner exhibits a loss tangent (tan ?) of 1.0 at a temperature in a range of 80-160° C., and (c) the toner provides a DSC curve showing a heat-absorption peak in a temperature range of 85-130° C. on temperature increase as measured according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Abstract: A toner formed of at least a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent and a wax, is provided with a uniform state of dispersion of the wax and good balance of low-temperature fixability and anti-high-temperature offset characteristic, while exhibiting good developing performances over wide environmental conditions. The toner is characterized in that (a) the binder resin comprises a hybrid resin component having a polyester unit and a vinyl polymer unit, (b) the toner exhibits a loss tangent (tan ?) of 1.0 at a temperature in a range of 80–160° C., and (c) the toner provides a DSC curve showing a heat-absorption peak in a temperature range of 85–130° C. on temperature increase as measured according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Abstract: In an electrophotographic conductive member composed of at least a thermoplastic resin composition, the thermoplastic resin composition contains a thermoplastic resin, a conductive filler and a conductive-filler dispersing agent, and the conductive-filler dispersing agent is a polyhydric alcohol type nonionic surface-active agent.

Abstract: An electrophotographic endless belt has a belt-like substrate, and a meandering-preventive member for preventing the electrophotographic endless belt from meandering and a position detection member for detecting a prescribed position of the electrophotographic endless belt. The meandering preventive member is, disposed on the inner-periphery side of one end portion of the belt-like substrate, and the position detection member is disposed on the outer-periphery side of the other end portion of the belt-like substrate. The meandering-preventive member and the position detection member are kept apart by a distance of from 200 mm to 250 mm in the width direction of the electrophotographic endless belt. A process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus employ such an electrophotographic endless belt as an intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic endless belt having a beltlike substrate, a meandering-preventive member and a position detection member, the meandering-preventive member is disposed on the inner-periphery side of one end portion of the beltlike substrate, the position detection member is disposed on the outer-periphery side of the other end portion of the beltlike substrate, and the meandering-preventive member and the position detection member are 200 mm to 250 mm away from each other in the width direction of the electrophotographic endless belt. The beltlike substrate contains a thermoplastic resin as a binder resin, and the beltlike substrate has a 25 ?m×25 ?m surface total current value of from 300 nA to 2,000 nA at the time of application of 100 V as measured by SPM.

Abstract: A toner is formed of toner particles each comprising at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and inorganic fine powder. The toner is characterized by (a) containing a sulfur-containing polymer, and (b) showing dielectric loss tangent (tan&dgr;) values at 100 kHz assuming a maximum of 2.5×10−2 to 8×10−2 in a temperature range of 100 to 130° C. Because of the combination of the features (a) and (b), the toner can exhibit a good combination of developing performances and fixing performances.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic endless belt having a beltlike substrate, a meandering-preventive member and a position detection member, the meandering-preventive member is disposed on the inner-periphery side of one end portion of the beltlike substrate, the position detection member is disposed on the outer-periphery side of the other end portion of the beltlike substrate, and the meandering-preventive member and the position detection member are 200 mm to 250 mm away from each other in the width direction of the electrophotographic endless belt. The beltlike substrate contains a thermoplastic resin as a binder resin, and the beltlike substrate has a 25 &mgr;m×25 &mgr;m surface total current value of from 300 nA to 2,000 nA at the time of application of 100 V as measured by SPM.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic endless belt having a beltlike substrate, and having a meandering-preventive member for preventing the electrophotographic endless belt from meandering and a position detection member for detecting a prescribed position of the electrophotographic endless belt; the former being disposed on the inner-periphery side of one end portion of the beltlike substrate, and the latter being disposed on the outer-periphery side of the other end portion of the beltlike substrate. The meandering-preventive member and the position detection member are kept apart in a distance of from 200 mm to 250 mm in the width direction of the electrophotographic endless belt. A process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus employ such an electrophotographic endless belt as an intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A toner exhibiting good balance of low-temperature fixability, an anti-offset characteristic and a developing performance in continuous image formation is formed of at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax. The toner exhibits a dielectric loss tangent showing a maximum of 6.0×10−2 to 10.0×10−2 in a temperature range of 90 to 125° C. The toner provides a DSC curve showing at least one heat-absorption peak or shoulder in a temperature range of 85 to 140° C. on temperature increase according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The binder resin comprises a hybrid resin having a vinyl polymer unit and a polyester unit.

Abstract: A toner formed of at least a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent and a wax, is provided with a uniform state of dispersion of the wax and good balance of low-temperature fixability and anti-high-temperature offset characteristic, while exhibiting good developing performances over wide environmental conditions. The toner is characterized in that (a) the binder resin comprises a hybrid resin component having a polyester unit and a vinyl polymer unit, (b) the toner exhibits a loss tangent (tan &dgr;) of 1.0 at a temperature in a range of 80-160° C., and (c) the toner provides a DSC curve showing a heat-absorption peak in a temperature range of 85-130° C. on temperature increase as measured according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Abstract: A toner containing toner particles and an inorganic fine powder; the toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, a sulfur-containing resin, and a wax; the binder resin containing a hybrid resin component containing a vinyl type polymer unit and a polyester unit, and the sulfur-containing resin being a resin selected from the group consisting of sulfur-containing polymers and sulfur-containing copolymers