Abstract: A developing device includes a container storing a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, a toner carrying body carrying the toner in the container and supplying the toner to a predetermined image carrying body by rotation, a restricting member held in press contact with the toner carrying body, and a restricting nip section formed between the toner carrying body and the restricting member. The restricting nip section selects only the toner in the two-component developer to form a uniform toner layer on the toner carrying body.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner comprises core particles formed by flocculating and fusion-bonding at least polyester resin particles containing wax and colorant particles, and a coating layer containing a resin formed over the core particles.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner contains toner particles each of which has a shell layer on the surface of a core particle comprising at least a first binder resin having a softening point of less than 100° C., a second binder resin having a softening point of not less than 100° C. and a colorant, being applicable to a low-temperature fixing process, and making it possible to achieve conflict functions, such as a heat-resistant storing property, mechanical strength and charge environmental stability.

Abstract: A toner including core particles containing at least a resin and a colorant and coated with a resin coating layer is provided. The core particles are formed by flocculating and fusion-bonding at least resin microparticles and colorant microparticles dispersed in fluid dispersion, while two or more coating layers are formed over the core particles. A wax is added to at least one of the coating layer(s) but for the outermost coating layer, and the core particles. A ratio d/r between an average thickness d of the overall coating layers and a volume average particle size r of the core particles is adjusted to 0.01 to 0.6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-magnetic one-component toner that is characterized by containing toner particles that have a volume-average particle size of 2 to 8 ?m, a ratio of the volume-average particle size/number-average particle size of not more than 1.22, an average degree of roundness of not less than 0.92 and a Vickers hardness of not less than 13.5HV0.01 (10 g), and also concerns a non-magnetic one-component contact developing device using such a toner and an image-forming apparatus using such a developing device.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner contains toner particles each of which has a shell layer on the surface of a core particle comprising at least a first binder resin having a softening point of less than 100° C., a second binder resin having a softening point of not less than 100° C. and a colorant, being applicable to a low-temperature fixing process, and making it possible to achieve conflict functions, such as a heat-resistant storing property, mechanical strength and charge environmental stability.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner comprises core particles formed by flocculating and fusion-bonding at least polyester resin particles containing wax and colorant particles, and a coating layer containing a resin formed over the core particles.

Abstract: A toner including core particles containing at least a resin and a colorant and coated with a resin coating layer is provided. The core particles are formed by flocculating and fusion-bonding at least resin microparticles and colorant microparticles dispersed in fluid dispersion, while two or more coating layers are formed over the core particles. A wax is added to at least one of the coating layer(s) but for the outermost coating layer, and the core particles. A ratio d/r between an average thickness d of the overall coating layers and a volume average particle size r of the core particles is adjusted to 0.01 to 0.6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-magnetic one-component toner that is characterized by containing toner particles that have a volume-average particle size of 2 to 8 &mgr;m, a ratio of the volume-average particle size/number-average particle size of not more than 1.22, an average degree of roundness of not less than 0.92 and a Vickers hardness of not less than 13.5HV0.01 (10g), and also concerns a non-magnetic one-component contact developing device using such a toner and an image-forming apparatus using such a developing device.

Abstract: An optical recording medium including a substrate, an information recording region arranged on the substrate and capable of bearing information being readable with predetermined light, and a tracking region arranged on the substrate, having optical characteristics different from those of the information recording region and having substantially no difference in level with respect to the surface of the information recording region. A method of making an optical recording medium, including the steps of forming uniformly a recording layer on a substrate, the recording layer being made of a recording material being reversibly reactive to predetermined light, and causing an irreversible reaction in a partial region of the recording layer without causing a substantial difference in level with respect to the other region of the recording layer.

Abstract: An optical device including a diffraction grating of high reflectivity with respect to wavelengths of light to be extracted provides a diffraction grating and an optical element with a large range of varying wavelengths of light to be extracted. An ultraviolet light having a pattern of a prescribed pitch is projected to a precursor of a polyimide. The precursor is polymerized after the ultraviolet light is projected to obtain a diffraction grating made of polyimide. The diffraction grating has a high reflectivity on an intended light wavelength.

Abstract: (1) Electrophotographic liquid developer comprising electrically insulating medium liquid and toner dispersed in the medium liquid, wherein the toner has a melt viscosity (.eta.) in a range from 2.times.10.sup.2 poises to 1.times.10.sup.5 poises at 100.degree. C. in a dry state, and has a glass transition temperature of 20.degree. C. or more.(2) Electrophotographic liquid developer comprising electrically insulating medium liquid and toner dispersed in the medium liquid, wherein the toner contains binder resin exhibiting at least one peak in each of ranges of a molecular weight lower than 5000 and of a molecular weight of 5000 or more when detected by a gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

Abstract: A liquid developer for electrophotography using a polyester resin as a toner binder resin which is suitable for high-speed systems and has excellent stability over time is disclosed.The invention is a novel liquid developer for electrophotography having colored particles dispersed in an electrically insulated fluid medium. The liquid developer includes an oil-soluble ionic surface active agent as a charge controller. According to one embodiment, the colored particles include a binder resin having an acid value of 40 mgKOH/g or higher but less than or equal to 100 mgKOH/g. According to another embodiment, the colored particles include a binder resin having a glass transition temperature Tg of 35.degree. C. or higher but less than or equal to 65.degree. C.

Abstract: A liquid developer having a superior sedimentation characteristic and floating characteristic and an image forming apparatus using said liquid developer, wherein said liquid developer comprising toner dispersed in liquid medium and the difference in specific gravity between said toner and said liquid medium is at or lower than a prescribed level.

Abstract: A color image forming method and apparatus of the electrophotographic type with a plurality of liquid developing devices. In a plurality of liquid developing devices accommodating liquid developer comprising colored microparticles dispersed in an electrically insulated fluid medium are used to form toner images of different colors, which are electrostatically transferred and overlaid one over another on a transfer medium to produce an overlaid toner image. The color image forming method and apparatus providing excellent overlay transfer characteristics for toner images transferred to a transfer medium.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid developer comprising steps of:adding a colored resin to a nonpolar dispersion medium;elevating the temperature of said nonpolar dispersion medium above the melting point of said resin;producing a resin emulsion by mixing said heated nonpolar dispersion medium containing said resin therein; andcooling said resin emulsion so as to obtain colored resin microparticles.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an insulated member disposed adjacent to a photosensitive member, a scanner exposing an image on the photosensitive member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the insulated member while voltage is applied between the photosensitive member and the insulated member so as to provide a charge on the insulated member surface corresponding to the optical exposure image. The exposure position exposed by the scanner is changed in the direction of movement of the image-bearing member for each scan.

Abstract: In a process for image formation, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member having an amorphous carbon layer as an outermost surface layer. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred to transfer paper of which pH-value according to JIS-P-8133 is in a range from 7.0 to 8.5.

Abstract: A contact charging device which charges the surface of an electrostatic latent image carrying member rotating at a high speed by contacting a charging member to the surface of the image carrying member. The charging member has a conductive substrate, a conductive elastic layer superimposed over the conductive substrate and having a JIS-A hardness of 30.degree. or greater, and a conductive resin layer superimposed over the conductive elastic layer and having a 10% elongation load of not more than 700 gf on a 1 cm wide section.

Abstract: A contact charging device having a charging member including a rotatable support member and a plurality of flexible films. One end of each the films is attached to the support member, and a free end of each the films is in contact with surface of the charge-receiving member for charging the surface of a charge-receiving member.