Patent ID: 9201365
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a photoconductor; a charging unit configured to charge the photoconductor; an exposing unit configured to expose the charged photoconductor to light to form an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit containing a toner and configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor with the toner to form a toner image; a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor onto a recording medium; and a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image transferred on the recording medium, wherein the toner comprises an external additive and base particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent, wherein the toner has a melt viscosity at 100° C. of 500 Pa·s to 8,000 Pa·s, wherein the release agent has a melt viscosity at 100° C. of 20 mPa·s to 30 mPa·s, wherein the fixing unit comprises a fixing member that has a roller shape or a belt shape and contacts the toner image transferred onto the recording medium, wherein the fixing member comprises a release layer on a surface thereof that is to be brought into contact with the toner image transferred onto the recording medium, and wherein the release layer satisfies the following expressions: where θc