Toner, method for manufacturing the toner, and image forming method and apparatus using the toner

A method for manufacturing a toner composition comprising:

• providing a polymer C by at least one of performing a condensation polymerization reaction and an addition polymerization reaction at a same time in a container using a mixture of monomers for the condensation polymerization reaction and addition polymerization reaction;
• and performing a condensation polymerization reaction and an addition polymerization reaction independently in a container using a mixture of monomers for the condensation polymerization reaction and addition polymerization reaction;
• kneading a mixture comprising the polymer C, a non-linear polymer A, a linear polymer B and a release agent upon application of heat;
• cooling the mixture to solidify the mixture;
• pulverizing the mixture;
• classifying the mixture to prepare toner particles,
• wherein the non-linear polymer A, the linear polymer B and the polymer C comprise a polymer unit of the same kind.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image;
• an image developer configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a developer comprising a carrier and a toner composition to form a toner image on the image bearing member;
• an image transferer configured to transfer the toner image on a receiving material optionally via an intermediate transfer medium;
• and
• a fixer configured to fix the toner image on the receiving material upon application of heat and pressure,
• wherein the image forming apparatus has a waiting period not longer than 15 seconds, a maximum electric power consumption not greater than 1.5 KW when image forming operations are performed and a maximum power consumption not greater than 30 W when image forming operations are not performed, and
• wherein the toner composition comprises toner particles, said particles comprising a binder resin and a release agent, and wherein when the toner composition is pressed upon application of a pressure of 478 kg/cm2 to form a toner plate, the toner plate has a surface having a coefficient of static friction of from 0.20 to 0.40.

An image forming method comprising:

• forming a toner image on a receiving material;
• and
• passing the receiving material through a nip between two fixing members A and B while applying a pressure to the fixing members A and B to fix the toner image on the receiving material upon application of heat and pressure, wherein the receiving material contacts the fixing member A,
• and wherein the toner comprises toner particles, said particles comprising a binder resin and a release agent, and when the toner is pressed upon application of a pressure of 478 kg/cm2 to form a toner plate, the toner plate has a surface having a coefficient of static friction of from 0.20 to 0.40.

A developing device comprising:

• a developer bearing member having a magnetic field generating means therein and configured to bear a developer comprising a magnetic carrier and a magnetic toner composition while rotating;
• a first regulation member configured to regulate the amount of the developer supplied to the developer bearing member to form a developer layer on the developer bearing member;
• a developer containing member configured to contain the developer scraped by the first regulating member;
• and
• a toner containing member located adjacent to the developer containing member and configured to supply the magnetic toner composition to the developer bearing member through an opening,
• wherein the developer containing member comprises:
• a second regulating member located on an upstream side from the first regulating member relative to the rotating direction of the developer bearing member, and configured to scrape the developer layer when a concentration of the magnetic toner in the developer layer increases and the developer layer thickens, to cover the opening with the scraped developer to stop the supply of the magnetic toner composition from the toner containing member, and
• wherein the magnetic toner composition comprises toner particles, said particles comprising a magnetic material, a binder resin and a release agent, and when the magnetic toner composition is pressed upon application of a pressure of 478 kg/cm2 to form a toner plate, the toner plate has a surface having a coefficient of static friction of from 0.20 to 0.40.