Abstract: A magnetic carrier composed of carrier particles is provided in which each carrier particle has a carrier core including magnetic fine particles and a binder resin with the carrier core surface being coated with a coat material containing a coat resin. In the magnetic carrier, Fatom/Catom and (Fatom/Catom)/(Fcalc/Ccalc) are respectively in specific ranges, wherein Fatom and Catom represent respectively a fluorine element abundance ratio and a carbon element abundance ratio at the magnetic carrier particle surface, and Fcalc and Ccalc represent respectively a fluorine element abundance ratio and a carbon element abundance ratio which are calculable from the molecular structure of the coat resin. In addition, a two-component developer is provoded including the magnetic carrier and a toner having a specific contact angle against water.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a toner. The photosensitive member has a universal hardness of 1.5×108 to 2.3×108 N/m2, the hardness being measured in an environment of 25° C. with a humidity of 50% using a Vickers diamond indenter having a quadrangular pyramid shape with a maximum load of 6 mN, and has an elastic deformation ratio of 46% to 65%. The toner has a weight average particle diameter of 4.0 to 8.0 ?m, the average circularity of the toner having an equivalent circle diameter of at least 2 ?m is 0.915 to 0.950, the toner has a storage modulus at 80° C. of 1×105 to 1×108 Pa, and a ratio of a loss modulus G? of the toner to the storage modulus G? of the toner (G?/G?=tan ?) is equal to 1 at a temperature in the range of 60° C. to 72° C.

Abstract: In a color toner having toner particles which have toner base particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and inorganic fine particles, (i) in the toner base particles, particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 3.00 ?m or more as measured with a flow type particle image analyzer have an average circularity of from 0.920 or more to less than 0.950, (ii) in the particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 3.00 ?m or more in the toner base particles, particles having a circularity of 0.960 or more are in a number frequency cumulative value of 40% or less; and (iii) in the particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 3.00 ?m or more in the toner base particles, particles having a circularity of 0.920 or less are in a number frequency cumulative value of 30% or less. Also disclosed is a full-color image forming method making use of the toner.

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 sp.ectral-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: A toner is composed primarily of toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and inorganic fine particles. The binder resin is one which has at least a polyester unit and is synthesized by using as a catalyst one or more compounds selected from titanium chelate compounds each having a specific structure and hydrates of the titanium chelate compounds. The toner has superior fixing performance and high-temperature anti-offset properties and is superior in charge stability even when used for a long time.

Abstract: A magenta toner is provided which contains at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax, in which a maximum heat-absorption peak temperature as measured using a differential scanning calorimeter, a reflectance at a predetermined wavelength when measured in a powder state by spectroscopic analysis, and lightness when measured in a powder form are in specific ranges. A full-color image is formed using the magenta toner as a pale magenta toner in combination with a deep magenta toner. According to the present invention, it becomes possible to form a vivid image which has reduced graininess and roughness from a low-density region to a high-density region, ensures a sufficient fixing temperature region, has a color reproduction range wider that the conventional one, and has high transparency on an OHP sheet.

Abstract: A toner characterized by improved fixing performances with no or minimum oil application is formed of: (i) a binder resin, (ii) a colorant, (iii) a hydrocarbon wax, (iv) a resin composition formed by copolymerization of a styrenic monomer together with at least one of nitrogen-containing vinyl monomers, carboxyl group-containing monomers, hydroxyl group-containing monomers and (meth)acrylate ester monomers, in the presence of a hydrocarbon unit; and (v) an organometallic compound. The binder resin (i) comprises a polyester component in a proportion of at least 60 wt. % of the binder resin. The toner has a GPC molecular weight distribution including a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 4.0×104 an a ratio Mw/Mn of at least 50 between the Mw and a number-average molecular weight (Mn).

Abstract: The present invention provides a cyan toner including: one or plural heat-absorption peaks in a temperature range of 30 to 200° C. in a heat-absorption curve obtained by using a differential scanning calorimeter; a maximal value of a maximum heat-absorption peak temperature in the range of 65 to 150° C.; and a reflectance of 45 to 80% at a wavelength of 500 nm, a reflectance of 5 to 30% at a wavelength of 600 nm, and a brightness L* of 45 to 75, when measured in a powder form by spectroscopic analysis. The present invention thus provides a cyan toner capable of forming an image with reduced graininess and roughness from a low-density region to a high-density region and ensured a sufficient fixing temperature region, and a method for forming an image using the cyan toner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner: comprising a binder resin comprising a polyester unit, a colorant, a releasing agent, and inorganic fine particles; has a weight average particle diameter of 3.0-6.5 &mgr;m; has an average circularity of particles in the toner each having a circle-equivalent diameter of 2 &mgr;m or more of 0.920-0.945; has a BET specific surface area of 2.1-3.5 m2/g; and has a permeability of light of a wavelength of 600 nm in a liquid having dispersed the toner in a 45 vol % methanol aq. of 30-80%. The present invention also provides a two-component developer: comprising the toner and a magnetic carrier comprising magnetic core particles coated by a coating layer; and has a number average particle diameter of 15-80 &mgr;m. Using the toner and the two-component developer enables a high-quality image to be formed at a high speed even in an oilless fixing system.

Abstract: A toner having toner particles each comprising at least a binder resin, a wax, and a colorant is used in an image forming apparatus which has a fixing means comprising a belt-shaped heating member and a pressurizing member. The binder resin contains a resin formed by a reaction between an epoxy group of a vinyl resin (A) having the epoxy group and a carboxyl group of a resin (B) having at least a polyester unit and the carboxyl group. The toner has a storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 80° C. (G′ 80) in the range of 1×105 to 1×108 Pa and has a storage elastic modulus at a temperature of 160° C. (G′ 160) in the range of 1×101 to 1×104 Pa.

Abstract: Provided is toner which is excellent in developing property, transferring property, and fixing property, hardly affected by its surrounding, and has good endurance. The toner has a peak temperature of maximum endothermic peak in the range of 60 to 100° C.

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 toner is disclosed which is composed of toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and an external additive. The wax has, in its DSC endothermic curve, a maximum endothermic peak at 55° C. to 80° C. within the temperature range from 30° C. to 160° C., the maximum endothermic peak having a half width of from 2° C. to 7° C., and the binder resin is composed chiefly of a polyester resin. The toner has a dynamic elastic modulus from 5×102 to 1×105 dN/m2 at 140° C., and its ratio to a dynamic elastic modulus at 170° C. is from 0.05 to 50, and the toner contains 10 to 20% by weight of THF-insoluble matter A of a binder resin component after 8 hours from the start of extraction and 1 to 10% by weight of THF-insoluble matter B of the binder resin component after 24 hours from the start of extraction, the ratio of A to B, B/A, being from 0.1 to 0.8. Also disclosed is a fixing method making use of this toner.

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: A toner characterized by improved fixing performances with no or minimum oil application is formed of: (i) a binder resin, (ii) a colorant, (iii) a hydrocarbon wax, (iv) a resin composition formed by copolymerization of a styrenic monomer together with at least one of nitrogen-containing vinyl monomers, carboxyl group-containing monomers, hydroxyl group-containing monomers and (meth)acrylate ester monomers, in the presence of a hydrocarbon unit; and (v) an organometallic compound. The binder resin (i) comprises a polyester component in a proportion of at least 60 wt. % of the binder resin. The toner has a GPC molecular weight distribution including a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 4.0×104 an a ratio Mw/Mn of at least 50 between the Mw and a number-average molecular weight (Mn).

Abstract: A toner, particularly a color toner suitable for full-color image formation through a substantially oil-less heat-pressure fixing device, is formed from at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax. The toner has viscoelasticity including: a storage modulus at 80° C. (G′80) in a range of 1×106-1×1010 dN/m2, storage moduli at temperatures of 120-180° C. (G′120-180) in a range of 5×103-1×106 dN/m2, and loss tangents (tan &dgr;=G″/G′ as a ratio between G″ (loss modulus) and G′ (storage molecules)) including a loss tangent at 180° C. (tan &dgr;180) and a minimum of loss tangents over a temperature range of 120-180 ° C. (tan &dgr;min) satisfying 1≦tan &dgr;180/tan &dgr;min. The toner further exhibits a thermal behavior providing a heat-absorption curve according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showing a maximum heat-absorption peak temperature in a range of 50-110° C. in a temperature range of 30-200° C.

Abstract: A toner, particularly a color toner suitable for full-color image formation through a substantially oil-less heat-pressure fixing device, is formed from at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax. The binder resin comprises a polyester-based resin selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyester resin, (b) a hybrid resin having a polyester unit and a vinyl polymer unit, and (c) a mixture of these resins. The wax is characterized by including a structural unit including an OH group, an amide, or an ester group at a specific position.

Abstract: A toner, particularly a color toner suitable for full-color image formation through a substantially oil-less heat-pressure fixing device, is formed from at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax. The binder resin comprises a polyester-based resin selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyester resin, (b) a hybrid resin having a polyester unit and a vinyl polymer unit, and (c) a mixture of these resins. The wax is characterized by including a structural unit including an OH group, an amide, or an ester group at a specific position.