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:
Jul. 08, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 17, 2008
Akihiro Kotsugai, Numazu, JP;
Hiroshi Yamashita, Numazu, JP;
Akihiro Kotsugai, Numazu, JP;
Hiroshi Yamashita, Numazu, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention provides a toner which, despite its spherical shape, makes it possible to prevent an external additive from being embedded in the toner easily or by a load generating low stress, reduce variation in image density, maintain cleaning ability and transfer ability throughout its long-term use and obtain excellent image quality, and further, provides a two-component developer, an image forming method and an image forming apparatus with the use of the toner. There is a toner including: base particles including a colorant and a resin, and hard fine particles, wherein the base particles and the hard fine particles are mixed together, and protruding portions formed of fine organic resin particles which are different in composition from a resin contained as a main component in the base particles are provided on surfaces of the base particles.