Patent ID: 7713671

Claim:
A toner, comprising: a binder resin; and a pigment, wherein the toner is semispherical and has plural dents on its surface, and wherein a circle circumscribing a circular profile thereof provides an average envelopability (AE) of 10 to 10,000 particles thereof of from 74 to 84%, which is measured by the following formula: AE (%)=( AC−AD )/ AC× 100 wherein AC is an area of the circle and AD is a total sum of areas of the dents; wherein the toner has a minimum fixable temperature of from 110 to 140° C. and a fixable temperature width of from 60 to 100° C; wherein the toner is prepared by a method comprising: dissolving or dispersing at least a polymer having a site reactable with a compound having an active hydrogen group, a compound having an active hydrogen group, the binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent in an organic solvent to prepare a solution or a dispersion, wherein: the polymer having a site reactable with a compound having an active hydrogen group is a polyester prepolymer comprising an isocyanate group; the compound having an active hydrogen group is a ketimine compound; the binder resin is a low-molecular weight polyester; and the release agent is a paraffin wax; dispersing the solution or dispersion in an aqueous medium; removing the organic solvent from the solution or dispersion after or while subjecting the polymer having a site reactable with a compound having an active hydrogen group to a reaction with the compound having an active hydrogen group, to prepare a de-solvented solution or dispersion; and washing and drying the de-solvented solution or dispersion.