Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method is disclosed. The method comprises developing latent images each formed on a static latent image forming member by serially arranged plural image forming units each including a toner to form toner images, respectively, successively transferring the toner images onto an image support so as to form a piled up image, and fixing the piled up image by a fixing device having a rotatable heating member including a heater fixed therein and a pressing member, and in the method the toner for developing the latent image has a variation coefficient of the shape coefficient of not more than 16% and a number variation coefficient of the particle diameter distribution in number of not more than 27%.

Abstract: A dry toner is provided that is prepared by a method including the steps of (A) dissolving or dispersing a toner composition in an organic solvent to prepare a toner composition liquid and (B) dispersing the toner composition liquid in an aqueous liquid which contains a binder resin formed of a modified polyester (i) and a colorant containing a carbon black having a pH not greater than 7, wherein the toner has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) is from 3 to 7 &mgr;m and a ratio of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to a number average particle diameter (Dp) is from 1.00 to 1.25.

Abstract: A toner having high mechanical strength and being capable of exhibiting a sufficient fixing property in a wide temperature range, and a method for manufacturing such a toner are provided. Further, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus in which such a toner can be suitably used are also provided. The method for manufacturing a toner comprises a step of spreading a dispersion liquid, in which a dispersoid containing polyester-based resin is dispersed in a dispersion medium, into a laminar flow by pressing it against a smooth surface using a gas flow and then jetting the dispersion liquid in the form of fine particles and a step of solidifying the fine particles of the dispersion liquid while they are being conveyed in a solidifying section. The polyester-based resin includes block polyester mainly composed of a block copolymer, and amorphous polyester having crystallinity lower than that of the block polyester.

Abstract: A toner is provided for the development of an electrostatic image which includes an agglomerate of particles obtained by agglomerating at least primary polymer particles and primary colorant particles, wherein the toner has a THF insoluble content of from 15% to 80% and the toner further includes a wax having a melting point of 30 to 100° C., and the method for producing the same.

Abstract: A toner is used in an image forming process employing a toner recycling system and contains at least a modified polyester resin, a coloring agent, and a releasing agent. The toner has a volume-average particle diameter Dv, a number-average particle diameter Dn and a shape factor SF-1, wherein Dv is in a range from 4.0 &mgr;m to 6.0 &mgr;m, the ratio Dv/Dn of Dv to Dn is in a range from 1.00 to 1.30, and the shape factor SF-1 is in a range from 140 to 200.

Abstract: A dry toner contains at least a toner binder, organic fine particles, a colorant, a wax, a charge control agent, and an external additive. The wax is concentrated in the vicinity of a toner core including the toner binder, colorant and wax. The organic fine particles adhere to the surface of the toner core to form a base toner-particle, the fine particle of charge control agent adhere to the surface of the base toner-particle, and the external additive is located on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A toner having high mechanical strength and being capable of exhibiting a sufficient fixing property in a wide temperature range is provided. Further, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus in which such a toner can be suitably used are provided. The toner contains polyester-based resin as a main resin component, and the acid value of the toner is 8.0 KOHmg/g or less. The polyester-based resin includes block polyester mainly composed of a block copolymer, and amorphous polyester having crystallinity lower than that of the block polyester. The block polyester has a crystalline block obtained by the condensation of a diol component with a dicarboxylic acid component and an amorphous block having crystallinity lower than that of the crystalline block.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner is formed as a blend of toner particles and external additives. The external additives include (1) first inorganic fine particles having an average primary particle size of 80-800 nm of oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, zinc and zirconium, (2) second inorganic fine particles other than silica having an average primary particle size of below 80 nm and (3) silica fine particles having an average primary particle size of below 30 nm. As a result, the toner can be made free from difficulties, such as melt-sticking onto an image-bearing member in a low humidity environment, roughening of halftone images in a low humidity environment, toner blot-down after storage at high temperatures or in continuous image formation on a large number of sheets, fog in continuous formations of images of low color area percentage in a low humidity environment, and re-transfer in multi-color image formation.

Abstract: The image forming method carries out reverse development with a developer that has a toner prepared by agglomerating resin particles in a water based medium.

Abstract: A toner composition including toner particles including a binder resin including a modified polyester resin, and a second resin having a weight average molecular weight of from 2,000 to 10,000; a colorant; a release agent; and a particulate material which is present at least a surface portion of the toner particles while embedded into the surface portion, wherein the binder resin has a glass transition temperature not lower than 35° C. and lower than 55° C., and wherein the particulate material has an average particle diameter of from 0.002 to 0.2 times that of the toner particles. A developer including the toner composition and a carrier having a layer thereon which includes at least an acrylic resin and a silicone resin, and a method for fixing an image of the toner composition are also provided.

Abstract: A toner used for an image forming method comprises steps of: limiting an amount of toner on a surface of a toner carrier by allowing a toner layer limiting member to be pressed to the surface of the toner carrier; and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier using the toner carried and transferred by the toner carrier, based on a non-magnetic single component development system, wherein the toner comprises toner particles having a volume average particle diameter of 3 to 9 &mgr;m, an arithmetic mean value of shape factor of 1.1 to 1.5, a coefficient of variation of shape factor of 16% or less, a ratio of rounded toner particle of 50% by number or more and a coefficient of variation of number particle diameter distribution of 26% or less, and a conveyance index of 2.0 to 10.0.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic latent images, having a specified volume-average particle size, an average degree of roundness, a standard deviation of the degree of roundness and surface properties D/d50 wherein a specified amount of fatty acid metal salt that has a specified volume-average particle size is externally added, and an image-forming method using such a toner.

Abstract: A toner for forming a color image comprises chromatic toners and a black toner is disclosed. Each of the toners is produced by polymerization of a polymerizable monomer in an aqueous medium, the difference of re-dispersion electro-conductivity of each of the toners is within the range of from 0.8 to 12 &mgr;s/cm, the number of free colorant particles on the black toner surface is less than 9 per 500 toner particles, and a light absorbance at 500 nm of a black toner dispersion is nor more than 0.08.

Abstract: Spherical toners having excellent fusibility are disclosed. The toners are fusible at low temperatures and are excellent in preservability and therefore charge properties, flowability, and transferability do not deteriorate. The toners contain a colorant and a nitrogen-containing polyester resin, in which the concentration of nitrogen at the surface of toner particles is higher than the concentration of nitrogen of the entire particles. The ratio of the surface concentration to the overall concentration is from 1.2 to 10. Additionally, the nitrogen-containing resin is preferably a polyester resin modified by urea bonds. Also, it is preferred that the toner particles are substantially spherical having an average spherity E of from 0.90 to 0.99.

Abstract: The present invention provides a silica fine particle capable of preventing a charging member or an image bearing member from being contaminated with toner when the toner contains the particle and also capable of providing the toner with a stable developing property. The silica fine particle of the present invention has been hydrophobic treated. Furthermore, the particle has a peak in a range of 0.04 &mgr;m to 1 &mgr;m and a peak in the range of 1 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m in a volume-basis particle diameter distribution. The particle has a frequency ratio of 10 to 80% for the particles with a particle diameter of 0.04 &mgr;m to 1 &mgr;m to a total of all the peaks, and the particles has the frequency ratio of less than 16% for the particles with a particle diameters of 20 &mgr;m to 2000 &mgr;m to the total of all the peaks.

Abstract: A toner including toner particles including a binder resin and a colorant, wherein particles of the toner have such a rolling property as to relatively easily roll in one direction compared to other directions. It is preferable that the toner particles preferably have a spindle form and satisfies the following relationships: 0.5≦(r2/r1)≦0.8, 0.7≦(r3/r2)≦1.0, and r3≦r2≦r1, wherein r1, r2 and r3 represent an average major axis particle diameter, an average minor axis particle diameter and an average thickness of the toner particles. An image forming apparatus including at least an image bearing member; a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image with a developer including the above-mentioned toner; a transferring device configured to transfer a toner image onto a receiving material; and a cleaning device configured to clean a surface of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A toner for an image-forming apparatus and method which apparatus has a cleaning means with a cleaning blade to remove a residual toner remaining on a surface of a photoconductive member after transfer; the toner being a mixture of a colored polymer particle and an external additive. The colored polymer particle has an average circle degree in the range of 0.95-0.995 and a volume average particle diameter in the range of 3-8 &mgr;m. The toner has an absolute value of charge amount in the range of 20-70 &mgr;C/g in a toner layer formed on a developing roll when the toner is used with the image-forming apparatus.

Abstract: An electrophotographic developer is provided for realizing high-quality images and superior reproducibility of laser dots in a low coverage region and reduced unevenness of color in halftone solid images. The electrophotographic developer includes a toner and a carrier. The toner has a shape factor of 140 or less and a volume average particle size distribution GSDv of 1.3 or less. The carrier has a coat resin layer on a core material, the coat resin layer containing a conductive powder. The core material has a dynamic electric resistivity of 1 &OHgr;·cm or less under an electric field of 104 V/cm in a form of a magnetic brush. The conductive powder has an electric resistivity of 101 &OHgr;·cm or greater and 106 &OHgr;·cm or less. The carrier has an electric resistivity in a range between 10 and 1×108 &OHgr;·cm. An image forming method is also provided wherein the electrophotographic developer is used for development in a developing stage.

Abstract: A color image forming method in which a color toner image is formed through superposing toner images of three color toners of yellow, magenta, and cyan and a black toner, wherein each of the color toners is a flattened toner composed of particles each having an equivalent circle diameter d of 5 to 10 (&mgr;m) when viewed from a direction to make a projection area maximum, a thickness t of 1 to 4 (&mgr;m), and a flattening ratio d/t of 2 to 8 represented by a ratio of the equivalent circle diameter d to the thickness t, and the flattening ratio d/t of the particles of the color toners is larger than the flattening ratio dk/tK of the particles of the black toner.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing dry toner and the like are provided, in which toner remaining after transfer can be recovered during developing with or without having a blade cleaning stage for promoting friction of an electrostatic latent image holding member. The electrostatic latent image developing toner contains toner particles containing a binder resin and a colorant and monodisperse resin particles having a volume mean diameter of 80 to 300 nm, a gel ratio of 60% or more by weight, and a standard deviation of D50×0.20 or less. A method of producing the above toner first mixes monodisperse resin particles, which have a volume mean diameter of 80 to 300 nm, a gel ratio of 60% or more by weight, and a standard deviation of D50×0.20 or less, with toner particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and adds an inorganic compound having a diameter smaller than that of the resin particles with a shear lower than the first mixing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming process including the steps of: forming a latent image; developing the latent image with a toner to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto a receiving body; and fixing the toner image to the receiving body, wherein the step of fixing is carried out using a fixing device including a heat-fixing roller, an endless belt, and a pressure member to allow the endless belt to travel around the heat-fixing roller at a given angle such that a nip is produced through which a recording sheet passes, with the pressure member being pressed to distort the heat-resistant elastic layer in the heat-fixing roller, and wherein the toner for developing the electrostatic latent image satisfies predetermined requirements.

Abstract: A resin composition for toners which comprises: (A) a wax composition comprising an ethylene polymer having a melt index of from 0.1 to 100 as measured at 190±0.4° C. and a paraffin wax having a melting point of from 70° C. to 120° C. or a Fisher-Tropsch wax having a melting point of from 70° C. to 120° C.; and (B) a binder resin for toners.

Abstract: A toner is proposed which includes toner particles and a fluidity-imparting agent and have such characteristics that the toner particles has an average circularity of 0.93 to 0.97, and that a residue of the toner is in an amount of 10 mg or less when 100 g of the toner is sieved with a 500-mesh sieve, which toner is for use in an electrophotographic image formation method using an intermediate image transfer method. A full-color image formation method, using this toner, and an image formation apparatus in which this toner is used are also proposed.

Abstract: A developer, which includes a base toner containing at least a binding resin and a coloring agent; and inorganic fine particles; wherein the base toner satisfies 105≦SF-1≦130 and 120≦SF-2≦180, wherein SF-1=((absolute maximum length of a particle of the base toner)2/area of the particle of the base toner)×(&pgr;/4)×100, wherein SF-2=(peripheral length of the particle of the base toner)2/(area of the base toner)×(¼&pgr;)×100, wherein the inorganic fine particles have an average particle diameter that ranges between 30 nm to 160 nm.

Abstract: The image forming method uses reverse development to form an image from a toner applied to a latent image on a photoreceptor. The dots that form the latent image have an exposure diameter A (in &mgr;m) while the dots of the toner that form on the latent image have a development diameter B (in &mgr;m). The relationship between the exposure diameter A (in &mgr;m) in the primary scanning direction and the development diameter B (in &mgr;m) in the primary scanning direction of the developed image is: 1.1≦B/A≦1.5. The toner is prepared by fusing at the resin particles in a water based medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor having an electrically-conductive support and a photosensitive layer provided on said support; an electrostatic charging unit for electrostatically charging said electrophotographic photoreceptor; an exposing unit for exposing said electrostatically charged electrophotographic photoreceptor to light to form an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit for developing said electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image; a transferring unit for transferring said toner image onto a transferring medium; and a cleaning device for removing a toner left on said electrophotographic photoreceptor after the transfer of said toner image, wherein said image forming apparatus is capable of performing image formation at a processing speed of not lower than 150 mm/s, wherein said electrophotographic photoreceptor comprises a surface layer containing a siloxane-based resin having charge-transporting properties and a crosslinked stru

Abstract: To provide a black toner having excellent charging property and transferring property against a severe environmental change. The black toner includes toner particle containing at least a binder resin, carbon black and a releasing agent, wherein: the toner particles have a weight-average particle diameter of 3.5 to 8.0 &mgr;m; total amount of acid value and hydroxyl value of the toner is 30 to 75 mgKOH/g; average circularity of particles contained in the toner having circle-equivalent diameter of 2 &mgr;m or more is 0.915 to 0.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic latent image is provided that is excellent in releasing property upon fixing and shape controllability upon production of the toner. The toner for developing electrostatic latent image has a number average molecular weight in a range of from 10,000 to 30,000 and a ratio of a Z average molecular weight and a weight average molecular weight in a range of from 3.0 to 6.0.

Abstract: A toner for developing a latent electrostatic image including a base of toner particle which contains a binder resin and a coloring agent, and an external additive. Herein, a plurality of the base of toner particle has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of 3 &mgr;m to 7 &mgr;m, a ratio (Dv/Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to a number average particle diameter (Dn) is 1.01 to 1.25, a plurality of the base of toner particle contains 15% by number or less of the base of toner particle having a particle diameter of 0.6 &mgr;m to 2.0 &mgr;m, a plurality of the base of toner particle has a circularity of 0.930 to 0.990 on average, the binder resin contains a modified polyester resin, and the toner contains 0.3 parts by weight to 5.0 parts by weight of the external additive, relative to 100 parts by weight of the base of toner particle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrophotographic toner using a polyester resin as a binder and a highly dispersed pigment colorant. The toner gives a high quality image excellent in transparency and chroma (brightness, gloss) and exhibits excellent powder fluidity, anti-offset property, charge stability and transferability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a toner, which produces a toner by using a dispersion comprising a dispersion medium having finely dispersed therein a dispersoid containing a raw material for the production of a toner, the method comprising intermittently ejecting the dispersion from a head unit by applying an ejection energy, and solidifying it into a particulate form while transporting the ejected dispersion through a solidification unit by an air flow. The ejection energy may be applied in the form of pressure pulse, or may be applied by the volume change of a bubble. Also disclosed are a toner obtained by the method, and an apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: A toner contains at least a bonding resin and a coloring agent, and has a weight mean particle size from 5 &mgr;m to 12 &mgr;m; not less than 90% by number of particles not less than 3 &mgr;m have a circularity “a” not less than 0.900; a cut ratio Z and a weight mean size X of the toner are related as: cut ratio Z≦5.3×X; and a relationship of particles Y having a circularity of not less than 0.950 and a weight mean size X is Y≧e5.51×X−0.645 where X is 5 to 12 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic image developing toner comprising a coloring agent and toner particles, said toner particles have a matrix-domain structure, and the average of the area of a Voronoi polygon formed by the perpendicular bisecting line between the centers of gravity of domains adjacent to each other in said matrix-domain structure is from 20,000 to 120,000 mm2, and the variation coefficient of the area of said Voronoi polygon is less than or equal to 25 percent.

Abstract: An image forming toner is provided, including at least: a binder resin; a colorant; and a release agent, wherein a volume-average particle diameter of the toner measured by a Coulter counter is from 5 to 8 &mgr;m; the content of the toner having a volume-average particle diameter of not greater than 5 &mgr;m is 60 to 75% by number; and the content of the toner having a number-basis circle-equivalent particle diameter of from 0.6 to 3 &mgr;m measured by a flow-type particle image analyzer is not greater than 25%.

Abstract: A developer for developing an electrostatic latent image is formed from toner particles each comprising a binder resin and a colorant, inorganic fine powder having a number-average particle size of 4-80 nm based on primary particles, and electroconductive fine powder. The developer is characterized by having a number-basis particle size distribution in the range of 0.60-159.21 &mgr;m including 15-60% by number of particles in the range of 1.00-2.00 &mgr;m, and 15-70% by number of particles in the range of 3.00-8.96 &mgr;m, each particle size range including its lower limit and excluding its upper limit. As a result of inclusion an appropriate amount of the electroconductive fine powder represented by the particle size fraction of 1.00-2.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a toner comprising: a step of preparing a powder for production of the toner from a raw material containing a resin as a main component, a coloring agent, and a crystalline polyester having higher crystallinity than the resin as an accessory component, and a thermal conglobation step of conglobating the powder for production of the toner with heat. The invention also provides a method for producing a toner from a kneaded material obtained by kneading a raw material containing a resin and a coloring agent, wherein the resin comprises at least a first polyester resin and a second polyester resin different from the first polyester resin, and wherein when the coefficient of static friction of the first polyester resin is taken as &mgr;1, the coefficient of static friction of the second polyester resin as &mgr;2, the softening point of the first polyester resin as Ts1 (° C.) and the softening point of the second polyester resin as Ts2 (° C.

Abstract: A toner for developing a static image comprising at least a resin, colorant and crystalline substance is disclosed. The toner particle has a domain-matrix structure and the domain has an average of the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis of from 1.5 to 2.5 when the domain is approximated by an ellipse.

Abstract: A toner for developing a latent electrostatic image which includes a binder resin and a coloring agent. In the toner, a coverage with the coloring agent on a surface of the toner is 1.5% by atom to 15% by atom, and the toner contains 2% by weight to 15% by weight of the coloring agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of a toner from a starting material having a fluidity includes a head portion and a solidifying portion. The head portion for ejecting the starting material includes a starting material storing portion, which stores the starting material, a piezoelectric material, which generates a pressure pulse for applying the pressure pulse to the starting material and an ejection portion, which ejects the starting material with the pressure pulse. The solidifying portion solidifies the starting material ejected from the head portion into a particulate material.

Abstract: A toner is provided for the development of an electrostatic image which includes an agglomerate of particles obtained by agglomerating at least primary polymer particles and primary colorant particles, wherein the toner has a THF insoluble content of from 15% to 80% and the toner further includes a wax having a melting point of 30 to 100° C., and the method for producing the same.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic latent images contains a coloring agent, a release agent, a binder resin including a non-linear polyester resin with a hydroxyl number of 30 to 70 mgKOH/g, and a metallic compound of an aromatic oxycarboxylic acid with a central metal having a valence of 3 or more. The toner is used in combination with a carrier to prepare a two-component developer. The toner or two-component developer is held in a container. The present invention further provides an image forming apparatus equipped with the container that holds therein the above-mentioned toner or two-component developer.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image and a process for producing the same, a developer for developing an electrostatic image, and a process for producing an image are provided. The toner contains a colorant and a binder resin, and also contains a polyolefin resin containing a polar group and having a glass transition point of 20° C. or less and a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 or more.

Abstract: A magnetic toner exhibiting stable performances under various environmental conditions is formed of toner particles each comprising at least a binder resin and iron oxide dispersed therein. Relative to the dry specific gravity (A) of the magnetic toner, the magnetic toner is characterized by a specific gravity distribution of toner particle fractions obtainable through wet sedimentation and including: at most 15 wt. % of a fraction having a specific gravity of above (A)×1.000 and at most (A)×1.025, 0.1-20 wt. % of a fraction having a specific gravity of above (A)×0.975 and at most (A)×1.000, at least 30 wt. % of a fraction having a specific gravity of above (A)×0.950 and at most (A)×0.975, 0.1-20 wt. % of a fraction having a specific gravity of above (A)×0.925 and at most (A)×0.950, and at most 15 wt. % of a fraction having a specific gravity of above (A)×0.900 and at most (A)×0.925.

Abstract: In a developing assembly, a process cartridge and an image-forming method, a specific developer and a specific developer-carrying member are used in combination. The developer comprises toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and conductive fine particles; the toner particles having a Circularity a of less than 0.

Abstract: An electrostatic photographic image forming toner is disclosed. The toner comprises a toner particle containing a binder resin and a colorant in which the binder resin has a specific softening point of from 105 to 132° C. and the toner particle has a hardness of from 6.0 to 24.0 mN and a circularity of from 0.92 to 0.99.

Abstract: A non-magnetic one-component developer comprising a substantially spherical polymerized toner which contains at least a binder resin and a colorant and has features that the volume average particle diameter is 5 to 10 &mgr;m, the proportion of particles having a particle diameter of at most 5 &mgr;m is at most 25% by number, the proportion of particles having a particle diameter of at least, 16 &mgr;m is at most 2% by volume, the standard deviation of the number particle diameter distribution is at most 1.8, and the spheroidicity represented by a ratio (dl/ds) of a length (dl) to a breadth (ds) in a particle is 1.0 to 1.3, and suitable for use in a cleaning system concurrent with development, and a developing method according to thee cleaning system concurrent with development making use of the non-magnetic one-component developer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method is disclosed. The method comprises developing latent images each formed on a static latent image forming member by serially arranged plural image forming units each including a toner to form toner images, respectively, successively transferring the toner images onto an image support so as to form a piled up image, and fixing the piled up image by a fixing device having a rotatable heating member including a heater fixed therein and a pressing member, and in the method the toner for developing the latent image has a variation coefficient of the shape coefficient of not more than 16% and a number variation coefficient of the particle diameter distribution in number of not more than 27%.

Abstract: A dry toner has toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax component and an external additive. The binder resin contains a component derived from a monomer selected from butadiene, isoprene and chloroprene. The toner has a main Tg from 40° C. to 70° C. When specific surface area measured by the BET method in an environment of 23° C. atmospheric temperature and 65% relative humidity is represented by A (m2/g) and specific surface area measured by the BET method in an environment of 50° C. atmospheric temperature and 3% relative humidity is represented by B (m2/g), the toner satisfies the following relationship: 0.8≦A≦4.0, 0.80≦(B/A)≦1.05. The toner has a circle-corresponding number-average particle diameter D1 from 2 to 10 &mgr;m, an average circularity from 0.950 to 0.995 and a circularity standard deviation less than 0.040. The toner has a main-peak molecular weight from 2,000 to 100,000 and contains a THF-insoluble matter from 5 to 60% by weight.

Abstract: A magenta toner for electrophotography includes a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the toner contains at least a naphthol pigment having a structure represented by the following general formula (1) as the colorant, and has a shape factor SF1 of 110 to 140 obtained by the equation below and a volume average particle size of 2 to 9 &mgr;m: 1

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner is formed as a blend of toner particles and external additives. The external additives include (1) first inorganic fine particles having an average primary particle size of 80-800 nm of oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, zinc and zirconium, (2) second inorganic fine particles other than silica having an average primary particle size of below 80 nm and (3) silica fine particles having an average primary particle size of below 30 nm. As a result, the toner can be made free from difficulties, such as melt-sticking onto an image-bearing member in a low humidity environment, roughening of halftone images in a low humidity environment, toner blot-down after storage at high temperatures or in continuous image formation on a large number of sheets, fog in continuous formations of images of low color area percentage in a low humidity environment, and re-transfer in multi-color image formation.