The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 2026
Filed:
Dec. 27, 2021
Kazumi Suzuki, Shizuoka, JP;
Toyoshi Sawada, Shizuoka, JP;
Katsunori Kurose, Shizuoka, JP;
Akihiro Kaneko, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazumi Suzuki, Shizuoka, JP;
Toyoshi Sawada, Shizuoka, JP;
Katsunori Kurose, Shizuoka, JP;
Akihiro Kaneko, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming method includes forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image bearer, developing the electrostatic image with a toner to form a visible image, transferring the visible image onto a recording medium, and fixing the transferred visible image on the recording medium. The toner includes toner base particles each including a binder resin, a release agent, and particles of an inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent, and satisfies conditions (1) to (3) below. The image forming method satisfies a relationship of 2.0X (micrometers)≤Z≤2.5X (micrometers). Conditions (1) the number average particle diameter X of the particles of the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent is 1.5 (micrometers)≤X≤2.5 (micrometers), (2) 3X (micrometers)≤Y≤4X (micrometers), and (3) an amount of the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent in the toner is 2.8% by mass or greater, but 5.0% by mass or less.