Image forming method and image forming apparatus for same

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a latent image support for supporting a latent image;
• developing means for using toner to develop the latent image on said latent image support;
• transfer means for electrostatically transferring the toner image to form a toner image on said latent image support onto a recording medium;
• and
• fixing means for bringing a heating member into close contact with the toner image electrostatically transferred onto said recording medium and thereby fixing said toner image to said recording medium,
• wherein an estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer is 0.25 or less.

An image forming method for forming a toner image on a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

• supporting a latent image on a latent image support;
• using toner to develop the latent image to form a toner image on said latent image support;
• electrostatically transferring the toner image on said latent image support onto a recording medium;
• and
• bringing a heating member into close contact with the toner image electrostatically transferred onto said recording medium and thereby fixing said toner image to said recording medium,
• wherein the toner used to form the toner image is manufactured by polymerization, and an estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer is 0.25 or less.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a latent image support for supporting a latent image;
• developing means for using toner to develop the latent image to form a toner image on said latent image support;
• transfer means for electrostatically transferring the toner image on said latent image support onto a recording medium;
• and
• fixing means for bringing a heating member into close contact with the toner image electrostatically transferred onto said recording medium and thereby fixing said toner image to said recording medium,
• wherein a toner manufactured by polymerization is specified as the toner used to form the toner image, and an estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer is 0.25 or less.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a latent image support for supporting a latent image;
• developing means for using toner to develop the latent image to form a toner image on said latent image support;
• transfer means for electrostatically transferring the toner image on said latent image support onto a recording medium;
• fixing means for bringing a heating member into close contact with the toner image electrostatically transferred onto said recording medium and thereby fixing said toner image to said recording medium;
• and
• toner housing means for housing the toner used to develop the latent image on the latent image support,
• said toner housing means housing a toner manufactured by polymerization, and an estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer being 0.25 or less.

An image forming method for forming a toner image on a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

• supporting a latent image on a latent image support;
• using toner to develop the latent image to form a toner image on said latent image support;
• electrostatically transferring the toner image on said latent image support onto a recording medium;
• and
• bringing a heating member into close contact with the toner image electrostatically transferred onto said recording medium and thereby fixing said toner image to said recording medium,
• wherein an estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer is 0.15 or less, and the average halftone granularity of the toner image after fixing is 0.25 or less.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a latent image support for supporting a latent image;
• developing means for using toner to develop the latent image to form a toner image on said latent image support;
• transfer means for electrostatically transferring the toner image on said latent image support onto a recording medium;
• and
• fixing means for bringing a heating member into close contact with the toner image electrostatically transferred onto said recording medium and thereby fixing said toner image to said recording medium,
• wherein an estimated average halftone granularity of the toner image after developing but before electrostatic transfer is 0.15 or less, and the average halftone granularity of the toner image after fixing is 0.25 or less.