Toner, development agent, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge

#This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2012-181118, 2012-194240, 2012-202977, 2012-241774, and 2013-046796, filed on Aug. 17, 2012, Sep. 4, 2012, Sep. 14, 2012, Nov. 1, 2012, and Mar. 8, 2013, respectively, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

#1. Technical Field

#The present invention relates to toner and a development agent, an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge that use the toner.

#Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same become better understood from the detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like corresponding parts throughout and wherein

#FIGS. 1A and 1B are graphs illustrating a method of calculating the crystallinity of toner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure after fitting;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a two-component development agent device in the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

#As a result of an investigation, the present inventors have found that by using toner which contains a binder resin containing a crystalline resin having a urethane and/or urea bonding; and a coloring agent, wherein in a diffraction spectrum of the toner as measured by an X-ray diffraction instrument, a ratio {C/(C+A)} of an integral intensity C of a spectrum derived from a crystalline structure to an integral intensity A of a spectrum derived from a non-crystalline structure is 0.12 or greater,

#wherein the toner satisfies the following relation 1: T1−T2≦30° C.  Relation 1

#where T1 represents a maximum endotherm peak in a first temperature rising from 0° C. to 100° C. at a temperature rising rate of 10° C./min and T2 represents a maximum exotherm peak in a first temperature falling from 100° C. to 0° C. at a temperature falling rate of 10° C./min as T1 and T2 are measured by diffraction scanning calorimetry (DSC), the crystalline resin is recrystallized quickly, thereby preventing occurrence of damage to an image during transfer in the paper path and improving the hardness of the image without degrading the stress durability of the toner.