Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid developer that is used in an apparatus for forming an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrying member, transferring the developed image to a recording medium, and then fixing the image, in which the liquid developer contains a carrier liquid and particles formed with a composition containing a binder resin, a colorant, and a charge controlling agent comprising a charge controlling substance containing an ionic or neutral substance, wherein the charge controlling substance containing an ionic or neutral substance is supported by an inorganic porous material.

Abstract: The invention provides a toner comprising a binder resin, a colorant, and a charge control agent comprising a charge control substance supported by an inorganic porous material, and having been subjected to thermal fairing treatment. Also disclosed are a toner obtained by a process comprising the steps of: kneading a composition containing a binder resin, a colorant and a charge control agent comprising an ionic or neutral substance supported by an inorganic porous material; pulverizing the kneaded product; adding the pulverized product to a solvent immiscible with water; dispersing the mixture in an aqueous medium; and removing the solvent by at least one of heating and pressure reduction, and a toner comprising associated particles formed from: primary particles obtained from an emulsion of a binder resin; a colorant; and a charge control agent comprising a water soluble charge control substance incorporated in inorganic fine particles.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid developer that is used in an apparatus for forming an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrying member, transferring the developed image to a recording medium, and then fixing the image, in which the liquid developer contains a carrier liquid and particles formed with a composition containing a binder resin, a colorant, and a charge controlling agent comprising a charge controlling substance containing an ionic or neutral substance, wherein the charge controlling substance containing an ionic or neutral substance is supported by an inorganic porous material.

Abstract: A recording medium having a toner image formed thereon is moved to pass through a press contact portion between an endless belt being heated and an pressure roller pressed against the endless belt. When passing through the press contact portion, the toner image is fused and permanently affixed onto the recording medium. An oil application width O of an oil application roller is shorter than belt width B of the endless belt, and a maximum passing width P of a recording medium that may be supplied for the image formation, but is longer than a maximum image-forming width I within which an image may be formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a toner comprising a binder resin, a colorant, and a charge control agent comprising a charge control substance supported by an inorganic porous material, and having been subjected to thermal fairing treatment. Also disclosed are a toner obtained by a process comprising the steps of: kneading a composition containing a binder resin, a colorant and a charge control agent comprising an ionic or neutral substance supported by an inorganic porous material; pulverizing the kneaded product; adding the pulverized product to a solvent immiscible with water; dispersing the mixture in an aqueous medium; and removing the solvent by at least one of heating and pressure reduction, and a toner comprising associated particles formed from: primary particles obtained from an emulsion of a binder resin; a colorant; and a charge control agent comprising a water soluble charge control substance incorporated in inorganic fine particles.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: A recording medium having a toner image formed thereon is moved to pass through a press contact portion between an endless belt being heated and an pressure roller pressed against the endless belt. When passing through the press contact portion, the toner image is fused and permanently affixed onto the recording medium. An oil application width O of an oil application roller is shorter than belt width B of the endless belt, and a maximum passing width P of a recording medium that may be supplied for the image formation, but is longer than a maximum image-forming width I within which an image may be formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the, driving roller.

Abstract: A recording medium having a toner image formed thereon is moved to pass through a press contact portion between an endless belt being heated and an pressure roller pressed against the endless belt. When passing through the press contact portion, the toner image is fused and permanently affixed onto the recording medium. An oil application width O of an oil application roller is shorter than belt width B of the endless belt, and a maximum passing width P of a recording medium that may be supplied for the image formation, but is longer than a maximum image-forming width I within which an image may be formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium carrier system of an image forming apparatus is constituted by independent units as a paper supply cassette, a paper feed unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a paper ejecting unit. An intermediate transfer unit in the transfer unit is provided with an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive drum is primarily transferred at a primary transfer position and which secondarily transfers the toner image on a recording medium at a secondary transfer position, and a driving roller for circulating the intermediate transfer belt. The primary transfer position is arranged close to the driving roller.

Abstract: A developing unit of the present invention includes a case which accommodates toner containing pigment, a developing roller, a supply roller formed of an elastic member arranged to be pressed against a surface of the developing roller in such a manner as to supply toner to the surface of the developing roller.

Abstract: An image is formed in a receiving sheet by embedding toner in an image receiving layer on a base. The distribution of molecular weight of resin in the image receiving layer measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of soluble matters of tetrahydrofuran (THF) has at least two peaks or shoulders. And the critical surface tension of the image receiving layer is made to be smaller than the critical surface tension of external additive. Further, the image receiving layer has a thermal characteristic such that a storage modulus (G′) of 1×102 Pa to 1×105 Pa and a loss modulus (G″) of 1×102 Pa to 1×105 Pa at temperatures at which the toner is fixed. Furthermore, the image receiving layer contains an aromatic ester compound, more preferably the aromatic polyester compound being dialkyl phthalate. Still further, the image receiving layer has a Rockwell hardness (R scale) HRa of 121 or lower.

Abstract: A developing unit of the present invention includes a case which accommodates toner containing pigment, a developing roller, a supply roller formed of an elastic member arranged to be pressed against a surface of the developing roller in such a manner as to supply toner to the surface of the developing roller. A conveying fin is supported by the case so as to convey toner to the surface of the supply roller wherein the developing roller, the supply roller, and the conveying fin are sequentially disposed in a horizontal direction. The number of revolutions of the conveying fin per unit time is between {fraction (1/50)} and {fraction (1/20)} of the supply roller.

Abstract: A developing unit of the present invention includes a case which accommodates toner containing pigment, a developing roller, a supply roller having chamfered ends and formed of an elastic member arranged to be pressed against a surface of the developing roller in such a manner as to supply toner to the surface of the developing roller. Moreover, the ratio or open cells in the elastic supply roller is made to be 30% or higher and depth of engagement of the supply roller to the developing roller is made to be 0.4 mm or smaller. Also a first sealing member is disposed on the side ends of the developing roller and supply roller so as to prevent leakage to the outside portion of the case. The side surfaces of the developing roller have a surface roughness of 0.5 &mgr;m or smaller in Rmax.