Kyocera Corporation

Yojiro Sato

Yoshio Ozawa

Hisashi Mukataka

Yuji Kamiyama

Keiji Itsukushima

Yukinori Nakayama

Hiroaki Moriyama

Masaki Ishii

Noriya Okamoto

Motoki Moriguchi

A toner, such as an electrostatic latent image developing toner and a MICR toner, has an even charge distribution, and exhibits balanced charging characteristics without decreases in frictional electrification or increases in charge, as well as superior fluidity, environmental independence, and durability. This is achieved by treating toner particles, which include binder resin and magnetic particles, with an external additive particle that is one of: a combination of rutile-type titanium oxide and anatase-type titanium oxide; and rutile-type titanium oxide that falls in a range of 5 to 10% by volume when a total volume of the toner is regarded as being 100%.

Toner and image forming method using the same

Image formation method and apparatus using electrophotography

The invention seeks to provide an electrophotographic apparatus, which can have a simplified and safe construction in an image forming apparatus using an a-Si photo-sensitive drum and form clear images free from the flow of image or 'fog'. The image forming apparatus that is sought uses image development a non-magnetic uni-component toner prepared by a polymerization process as a preamble, and is characterized in that a developing roller is rotated in contact with an a-Si photo-sensitive drum via a layer of non-magnetic uni-component toner. The volume resistivity of the developing roller is set to 3.times.10.sup.7..OMEGA. cm or below. The photo-sensitive drum has a surface layer with an element ratio composition represented as (a-Si.sub.1-x C.sub.x :H), x being 0.95.ltoreq.x&lt;1, the dynamic push hardness of the outer surface of the surface layer being 300 kgf/mm.sup.2 or below, the hardness of the surface layer being set to be higher on the inner side than on the outer surface, and a developing roller is rotated while carrying a non-magnetic uni-component toner prepared by a polymerization process at a peripheral speed different from that of the photo-sensitive drum, thereby causing the carried toner to rub the surface of the photo-sensitive drum for electrophotographic development.

Image forming apparatus having an .alpha.-Si photosensitive drum and a

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Watarai-gun, Japan

Yojiro Sato