Toner, developer using the same, toner container using the same, process cartridge using the same, image-forming process using the same and image-forming apparatus using the same

A developer comprising:

• a toner having a storage elastic modulus (G′) of from 500 Pa to 10,500 Pa at a frequency of 1 Hz and temperature of 180° C.,
• wherein a toner composition of the toner, comprises a binder resin which comprises a modified polyester resin (i) capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group,
• the toner composition is subjected to one of dissolution and dispersion in an organic solvent so as to form one of a solution and a dispersion,
• one of the solution and the dispersion is subjected to a reaction with a compound having an active hydrogen group, while being dispersed in an aqueous medium containing fine resin particles which have an average particle diameter of 500 nm or less,
• the obtained aqueous dispersion is subjected to removal of a solvent thereof so as to obtain the toner.

An image-forming process, comprising the steps of:

• uniformly charging a surface of a photoconductor and emitting light to the surface of the photoconductor imagewise so as to form a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductor;
• supplying a toner to the surface of the photoconductor so that the latent electrostatic image is visualized to form a toner image on the photoconductor;
• transferring the toner image to a recording medium;
• and
• recovering the remained toner on the photoconductor after the step of transferring and re-using the recovered toner in the step of supplying,
• wherein the toner have a storage elastic modulus (G′) of from 500 Pa to 10,500 Pa at a frequency of 1 Hz and temperature of 180° C.,
• wherein the toner is formed from a toner composition which comprises a binder resin containing a modified polyester resin (i) capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group,
• the toner composition is subjected to one of dissolution and dispersion in an organic solvent so as to form one of a solution and a dispersion,
• one of the solution and the dispersion is subjected to a reaction with a compound having an active hydrogen group, while being dispersed in an aqueous medium containing fine resin particles which have an average particle diameter of 500 nm or less,
• the obtained aqueous dispersion is subjected to removal of a solvent thereof so as to obtain the toner.

A toner container comprising:

• a container;
• and
• a developer loaded in the container wherein the developer comprises a toner, the toner having a storage elastic modulus (G′) of from 500 Pa to 10,500 Pa at a frequency of 1 Hz and temperature of 180° C.,
• wherein the toner is formed of a toner composition which comprises a binder resin containing a modified polyester resin (i) capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group,
• the toner composition is subjected to one of dissolution and dispersion in an organic solvent so as to form one of a solution and a dispersion,
• one of the solution and the dispersion is subjected to a reaction with a compound having an active hydrogen group, while being dispersed in an aqueous medium containing fine resin particles which have an average particle diameter of 500 nm or less,
• the obtained aqueous dispersion is subjected to a removal of a solvent thereof so as to obtain the toner.

An image-forming apparatus, comprising:

• a photoconductor;
• a developing unit configured to supplying a toner to a latent electrostatic image formed on the photoconductor so as to form a toner image;
• a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image to a recording medium;
• and
• a recycle unit configured to recover the remained toner on the photoconductor after the toner image is transferred, and re-use the toner in the developing unit,
• wherein the toner has a storage elastic modulus (G′) of from 500 Pa to 10,500 Pa at a frequency of 1 Hz and temperature of 180° C.,
• wherein a toner composition of the toner, comprises a binder resin which comprises a modified polyester resin (i) capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group,
• the toner composition is subjected to one of dissolution and dispersion in an organic solvent so as to form one of a solution and a dispersion,
• one of the solution and the dispersion is subjected to react with a compound having an active hydrogen group, while being dispersed in an aqueous medium containing fine resin particles which have an average diameter of 500 nm or less,
• the obtained aqueous dispersion is subjected to removal of a solvent thereof so as to obtain the toner.

A process cartridge comprising:

• a photoconductor;
• and
• a developing unit configured to supply a toner to the surface of the photoconductor so that a latent electrostatic image formed on the photoconductor is visualized to form a toner image,
• wherein the toner has a storage elastic modulus (G′) of from 500 Pa to 10,500 Pa at a frequency of 1 Hz and temperature of 180° C.,
• wherein the toner is formed from a toner composition which comprises a binder resin containing a modified polyester resin (i) capable of reacting with a compound having an active hydrogen group,
• the toner composition is subjected to one of dissolution and dispersion in an organic solvent so as to form one of a solution and a dispersion,
• one of the solution and the dispersion is subjected to a reaction with a compound having an active hydrogen group, while being dispersed in an aqueous medium containing fine resin particles which have an average particle diameter of 500 nm or less,
• the obtained aqueous dispersion is subjected to a removal of a solvent thereof so as to obtain the toner.