The present invention relates to a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image, a process for producing the same, a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image, and a process for forming an image in an electrophotographic process and an electrostatic recording method.
In the electrophotographic process, an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image holding member (photoreceptor) is developed with a toner containing a coloring agent, and a resulting toner image is transferred to a transferring material and then fixed with a heat roll, so as to obtain an image. The latent image holding member is separately subjected to cleaning for forming another electrostatic image.
A dry developer used in the electrophotographic process is roughly classified to a one-component developer solely using a toner containing a binder resinhigh image quality equivalent to the initial stage even after the lapse of time that the characteristics of the toners are stably controlled. It has been reported that a toner is agitated in a developing device, and the fine structure on the surface of the toner is easily changed, to cause great change in transferring property (JP-A-10-312089).
In recent years, a cleaning system without cleaner has been proposed from the standpoints of miniaturization of an apparatus for space saving, decrease of the waste toner for environmental protection, and prolongation of the service life of the latent image holding member. In the cleaning system without cleaner, without using a cleaning system, the toner remaining on a photoreceptor drum after transferring is dispersed by a brush in contact with the photoreceptor