IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS
An image formation apparatus including: a two-component developer that contains toner and carrier; a photoconductor that forms a toner image by the two-component developer; and an intermediate transfer body to which the toner image on the photoconductor is transferred. The intermediate transfer body has a surface layer that is provided on a transfer surface of the intermediate transfer body onto which the toner image is transferred and that contains a first fluoropolymer. The carrier has a carrier core particle and a coat layer that is provided on a surface of the carrier core particle and that contains a second fluoropolymer. The toner is positively charged.
1 . An image formation apparatus, comprising:
a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier;
a photoconductor that forms a toner image using the two-component developer; and
an intermediate transfer body to which the toner image on the photoconductor is transferred, the intermediate transfer body has a surface layer that is provided on a transfer surface of the intermediate transfer body onto which the toner image is transferred and that comprises a first fluoropolymer;
the carrier has a carrier core particle and a coat layer on a surface of the carrier core particle and that comprises a second fluoropolymer;
and the toner is positively charged.
2 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first fluoropolymer and the second fluoropolymer comprise substantially the same materials.
3 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mass-average particle diameter of the carrier core particle is 40 μm or less.
4 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first fluoropolymer and the second fluoropolymer comprise polymers or copolymers selected from the group consisting of: vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, monochlorotrifluoroethylene, monofluoroethylene, and trifluoroethylene.
5 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first fluoropolymer and the second fluoropolymer are selected from the group consisting of: tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer, and polytetrafluoroethylene.
6 . An image formation apparatus, comprising:
a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier;
a photoconductor that forms a toner image using the two-component developer; and
a fixing device which fixes the toner image that has been transferred from the photoconductor to a recording medium;
a fixing member of the fixing device comprising a surface layer comprising a first fluoropolymer;
the carrier comprises a carrier core particle and a coat layer on the surface of the carrier core particle that comprises a second fluoropolymer; and
the toner is positively charged.
7 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first fluoropolymer and the second fluoropolymer comprise substantially same materials.
8 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the mass-average particle diameter of the carrier core particle is 40 μm or less.
9 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the toner image is directly transferred from the photoconductor onto the recording medium.
10 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first fluoropolymer and the second fluoropolymer comprise polymers or copolymers.
11 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first fluoropolymer and the second fluoropolymer are selected from the group consisting of: tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer, and polytetrafluoroethylene.
12 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and the second fluoropolymer are selected from the group consisting of: vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, monochlorotrifluoroethylene, monofluoroethylene, and trifluoroethylene.
13 . The image formation apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first and the second fluoropolymer are selected from the group consisting of: vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, monochlorotrifluoroethylene, monofluoroethylene, and trifluoroethylene.
14 . A method of forming an image comprising the steps of:
providing a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier;
using the two-component developer to form a toner image;
transferring the toner image on the photoconductor to a member selected from the group consisting of an intermediate transfer body and a fixing device, the member having a surface layer that comprises a first fluoropolymer;
using as the carrier a carrier having core particles and a coat layer on a surface of the carrier core particles and comprises a second fluoropolymer; and
using positively charged toner.
15 . An image forming device comprising:
a photoconductor that forms a toner image using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier;
a surface layer that is part of means for transferring the toner image comprising a first fluoropolymer;
the carrier comprises a carrier core particle and a coat layer on the surface of the carrier core particle that comprises a second fluoropolymer; and
the toner is positively charged.