Abstract: An image-forming method for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, (i) wherein when a high-gloss recording medium (G0>40) is used, an image is formed at a low-speed mode process speed of from 20 mm/sec. to less than 130 mm/sec. and, where the maximum and minimum gloss values of the fixed image (Gmax1 and Gmin1, respectively), satisfy: Gmax1≦G0+40 and Gmin1≧G0−25; and (ii) wherein when a low-gloss recording medium (0≦G0≦40) is used, an image is formed at a high-speed mode process speed of from 130 mm/sec. to 600 mm/sec. and, where values of the fixed image (Gmax2 and Gmin2, respectively), satisfy: Gmax2≦G0+20 and Gmin2≧G0−15.

Abstract: A magenta toner having a storage elastic modulus at 80° C., G′80, from 1×106 dN/m2 to 1×108 dN/m2 and a storage elastic modulus at 120° C. to 180° C., G′120-180, from 2×103 dN/m2 to 1×106 dN/m2, and containing a compound represented by Formulas (1) and (2) and a compound represented by Formula (3): wherein RD2 represents H or OCH3, RD4 represents H or CONH2, RD5 represents H, SO2N(C2H5)2, CONHC6H5, CONH2 or CONHC6H4-(p)CONH2, RK2 represents H, OCH3, CH3 or OC2H5, RK4 represents H, OCH3 or Cl, and RK5 represents H, OCH3, Cl or NO2; wherein RD2 represents H or SO3—, RD4 represents H, Cl or CH3, RD5 represents H, Cl, CH3, C2H5, or SO3—, and M represents Ba, Ca, Sr, Mn or Mg; provided that one of RD2 and RD5 is SO3. wherein RD1 and RD2 each represent H or CH3.

Abstract: A yellow toner in which, in a spectral-distribution diagram in which the reflectance (%) is plotted as ordinate and the wavelength (nm) as abscissa, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 15% to 20% at a wavelength of 500 nm and ranges from 75% to 80% at a wavelength of 600 nm, a cyan toner in which, in the like spectral-distribution diagram, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 30% to 35% at a wavelength of 450 nm and ranges from 35% to 40% at a wavelength of 475 nm, and a magenta toner in which, in the like spectral-distribution diagram, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 5% to 10% at a wavelength of 425 nm and ranges from 65% to 70% at a wavelength of 675 nm. These color toners each contain corresponding pigments in specific combination, and promise color reproduction which can ensure the color tones of process inks.

Abstract: In an image-forming method having a fixing step of fixing a toner image onto a recording medium, and having at least a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode so as to be able to form images at different speeds;

Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic method and an electrophotographic apparatus that can reduce ghost memory latent in an a-Si photosensitive member, relieve potential unevenness, and provide image copies with high quality. In an electrophotographic process of forming a toner image at least through decharging of a photosensitive member as a recording element, charging, exposing, developing, and transferring, at least a light-receiving layer of the photosensitive member is comprised of an amorphous material; a latent image is formed by the exposing with a light; the light has such a peak wavelength in an emission spectrum as to make minimum a value of optical memory at a unit contrast potential; and the decharging is implemented by use of a light having a full width at half maximum of a peak in an emission spectrum of not more than 50 nm.

Abstract: In a two-component development system containing a toner and a carrier, an a-Si photosensitive member having a diameter of from 20 mm to 80 mm is used, the photosensitive member is electrostatically charged to have a surface potential of from 300 to 450 V (absolute value), and yellow, magenta, cyan and black toners are used each of which have a weight-average particle diameter of from 4.0 &mgr;m to 10.0 &mgr;m, and, under a condition that the carrier of the two-component developer has a 50% average particle diameter of from 10 &mgr;m to 80 &mgr;m and as image density (D0.5) measured usually after the toner is fixed once when the quantity of unfixed toner on a transfer medium, M/S, is 0.5 mg/cm2, have a coloring power of from 1.0 to 1.9, and in which the difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of D0.5 of yellow, magenta, cyan and black colors is form 0 to 0.5. This makes it possible to obtain high-quality images in a high image density and a superior color reproduction.

Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic method and an electrophotographic apparatus that can reduce ghost memory latent in an a-Si photosensitive member, relieve potential unevenness, and provide image copies with high quality. In an electrophotographic process of forming a toner image at least through decharging of a photosensitive member as a recording element, charging, exposing, developing, and transferring, at least a light-receiving layer of the photosensitive member is comprised of an amorphous material; a latent image is formed by the exposing with a light; the light has such a peak wavelength in an emission spectrum as to make minimum a value of optical memory at a unit contrast potential; and the decharging is implemented by use of a light having a full width at half maximum of a peak in an emission spectrum of not more than 50 nm.

Abstract: In a two-component development system containing a toner and a carrier, an a-Si photosensitive member having a diameter of from 20 mm to 80 mm is used, the photosensitive member is electrostatically charged to have a surface potential of from 300 to 450 V (absolute value), and yellow, magenta, cyan and black toners are used each of which have a weight-average particle diameter of from 4.0 &mgr;m to 10.0 &mgr;m, and, under a condition that the carrier of the two-component developer has a 50% average particle diameter of from 10 &mgr;m to 80 &mgr;m and as image density (D0.5) measured usually after the toner is fixed once when the quantity of unfixed toner on a transfer medium, M/S, is 0.5 mg/cm2, have a coloring power of from 1.0 to 1.9, and in which the difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of D0.5 of yellow, magenta, cyan and black colors is form 0 to 0.5. This makes it possible to obtain high-quality images in a high image density and a superior color reproduction.

Abstract: A magenta toner containing at least a binder resin and a colorant; the magenta toner having a storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 80° C., G′80, in the range of from 1×106 dN/m2 to 1×108 dN/m2 and a storage elastic modulus at a temperature of from 120° C. to 180° C., G′120-180, in the range of from 2×103 dN/m2 to 1×106 dN/m2, and containing at least a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following Formulas (1) and (2) and a compound represented by the following Formula (3).

Abstract: An electrophotographic process is implemented with improved ghost memory and with high chargeability even under circumstances of increased process speed or compactified structure and the electrophotographic process forms an image on a photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer through a series of steps including steps of charge elimination, charging, latent image exposure, and development to form a toner image, wherein light used in the latent image exposure step is light of a wavelength within such a range that a value of (optical memory before charging)/(sensitivity) of the photosensitive layer is not more than 1.5 times a minimum value. The optical memory before charging means lowering in chargeability due to light irradiation before charging.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which largely improves the reliability of electrophotographic apparatuses and can accommodate their extremely large productivity comprises an image forming part which forms toner images on an image carrying member, an image transfer part which transfers the toner images on the image carrying member onto a transfer material, and a cleaning part which removes post-transfer residual toner left on the image carrying member after the images are transferred onto the transfer material by the image transfer part, wherein the image carrying member is an amorphous silicon photosensitive member and an initial average gradient &Dgr;a of the photosensitive member is 0.0001 to 0.005.

Abstract: An electrophotographic amorphous silicon photosensitive member is used for an electrophotographic apparatus that forms images by the electrophotographic method, and an image forming apparatus uses this photosensitive member, which includes a drum-shaped cylindrical conductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer that contains amorphous silicon, thus structuring an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Then, the outer diameter of this photosensitive drum is configured to be gradually smaller from the vicinity of the central portion thereof in the generatrix direction to both ends in the longitudinal direction, hence making it possible to enhance the cleaning effect on residual toner.

Abstract: A photosensitive member to be used for an image-forming apparatus effectively suppresses the effect of wetting the foreign matters adhered to the surface thereof, reduces the load of the cleaning unit and prolong the service life of the photosensitive member so that the image-forming apparatus may be down-sized. In the photosensitive member, the surface free energy (&ggr;) on the uppermost surface of the photosensitive member is made between 35 and 65 mN/m and the variation of the surface free energy &Dgr;&ggr; is made less than 25 mN/m during long operation.

Abstract: A photosensitive member to be used for an image-forming apparatus can effectively suppress its wettability of the surface relative to foreign objects adhering to it and reduce the load and the mechanism necessary for cleaning the surface so as to prolong the service life of the photosensitive member and make the apparatus adapted to down-sizing. For this purpose, the wettability (W: work of adhesion) of the surface of the photosensitive member relative to toner is confined to be between 60 and 110 mN/m.

Abstract: In a surface potential measuring apparatus for measuring a potential configuration by moving a photosensitive body of an image forming apparatus of electrophotographic type and at least one potential sensor relative to each other and by generating dielectric current in the potential sensor due to change in potential on a surface of the photosensitive body and by analyzing the dielectric current, a width of a detecting portion of the potential sensor is smaller than a width of the change in potential to be measured, and a sectional shape of the detecting portion in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the photosensitive body and parallel to the relative movement direction does not include any edge.