Patent ID: 6632577
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming method comprising:(a) forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image bearing member comprising an organic photosensitive member, said organic photosensitive member being multilayered and negatively chargeable; (b) developing through a developing means said electrostatic latent image employing a toner to form a toner image; (c) transferring the toner image to a recording medium; (d) cleaning the electrostatic latent image bearing member by a cleaning means in contact with a surface of the electrostatic latent image bearing member to collect untransferred toner as waste toner thereon; and (e) fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium, wherein said waste toner after collection is reused in a subsequent step (b) as a mixed toner comprising said collected waste toner and toner not yet used for developing the electrostatic latent image, wherein said toner comprises a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, said binder resin having at least one peak in the region of a molecular weight from 2,000 to 50,000 and at least a peak or shoulder in the region of a molecular weight of not less than 100,000 in molecular weight distribution as measured by gel permeation chromatography, and said release agent having a methylene chain, a temperature of an endothermic peak in the range of 80Â° C. to 120Â° C. at the time of temperature rise in its DSC curve, an onset temperature of the endothermic peak in the range of 45Â° C. to 100Â° C., a weight average molecular weight (Mw) from 500 to 4,000, a number average molecular weight (Mn) from 500 to 1,300 and a value of Mw/Mn of not more than 3 in molecular weight distribution as measured by gel permeation chromatography.