| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 1 355 196 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
10.12.2003 Bulletin 2003/50 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
22.10.2003 Bulletin 2003/43 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 19.04.2002 |
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV MK RO SI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
10.04.2002 JP 2002107487
|
| (71) |
Applicant: Oki Data Corporation |
|
Tokyo 108-8551 (JP) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Goto, Takuya, c/o Oki Data Corporation
Tokyo 108-8551 (JP)
- Sato, Hiroaki, c/o Oki Data Corporation
Tokyo 108-8551 (JP)
- Ito, Katsuyuki, c/o Oki Data Corporation
Tokyo 108-8551 (JP)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Read, Matthew Charles et al |
|
Venner Shipley & Co. 20 Little Britain
London EC1A 7DH
London EC1A 7DH (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Toner, toner cartridge that holds the toner therein, and image forming apparatus into
which the toner cartridge is attached |
(57) A toner is used in an image-forming apparatus that incorporates a toner- collecting
member. The toner- collecting member (6a) collects residual toner (16a) on a surface
of an image-bearing body (1). The toner includes a spherical toner having at least
a binder resin, and an irregularly- shaped particles mixed with the spherical toner.
The irregularly shaped particle has an average diameter in the range of 1-50 µm. The
average diameter is 14 to 10% of the diameter of a spot printed by the image-forming
apparatus. The irregularly shaped particle is a toner having the same color as the
spherical toner. The irregularly shaped particle is a colorless toner. The irregularly
shaped particle is charged opposite in polarity to the spherical toner. The irregularly
has a roundness of 0.85 or less.