Carrier for developing electrostatic charge image, electrostatic charge image developer, and image forming apparatus

1. A carrier for developing an electrostatic charge image, the carrier comprising:

magnetic particles; and

a resin coating that covers the magnetic particles and contains at least one lubricant,

the resin coating having a dispersed phase of the lubricant and meeting requirement (1):

requirement (1): a lubricant content in a top layer>a lubricant content in a middle layer>a lubricant content in a bottom layer

where the top, middle, and bottom layers are of the resin coating divided into three in a direction of thickness, and the lubricant content is a percentage area of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in a cross-section of the layer taken along a thickness thereof.

2. The carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein a ratio between the lubricant content in the top layer and the lubricant content in the middle layer, the top layer/the middle layer, is 1.5 or more and 4.0 or less.

3. The carrier according to claim 2 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the ratio between the lubricant content in the top layer and the lubricant content in the middle layer, the top layer/the middle layer, is 2.0 or more and 2.5 or less.

4. The carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the resin coating further meets requirement (2):

requirement (2): a mean major axis of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the top layer>a mean major axis of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the middle layer>a mean major axis of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the bottom layer

where the top, middle, and bottom layers are of the resin coating divided into three in the direction of thickness, and the mean major axis of the dispersed phase of the lubricant is an arithmetic mean of major axes of portions of the dispersed phase of the lubricant entirely contained in the layer.

5. The carrier according to claim 4 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein a ratio between the mean major axis of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the top layer and the mean major axis of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the middle layer, the top layer/the middle layer, is 1.0 or more and 2.0 or less.

6. The carrier according to claim 5 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the ratio between the mean major axis of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the top layer and the mean major axis of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the middle layer, the top layer/the middle layer, is 1.2 or more and 1.5 or less.

7. The carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein a mean aspect ratio, i.e., a mean ratio of a major axis to a minor axis, of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the resin coating is 1.2 or more and 2.5 or less.

8. The carrier according to claim 7 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the mean aspect ratio, i.e., the mean ratio of the major axis to the minor axis, of the dispersed phase of the lubricant in the resin coating is 1.2 or more and 1.5 or less.

9. The carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein:

the lubricant content in the top layer is 20% or more and 60% or less; and

the lubricant content in the middle layer is 10% or more and 50% or less.

10. The carrier according to claim 9 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein:

the lubricant content in the top layer is 30% or more and 50% or less; and

the lubricant content in the middle layer is 10% or more and 30% or less.

11. The carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein an average thickness of the resin coating is 0.3 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

12. The carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the lubricant includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a metal salt of a fatty acid and a layered compound.

13. The carrier according to claim 12 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the lubricant includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a metal salt of stearic acid, melamine cyanurate, and mica.

14. The carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the resin coating contains an alicyclic (meth)acrylic resin.

15. The carrier according to claim 14 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the resin coating contains cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate.

16. The carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein a percentage exposed area of the magnetic particles is 0% or more and 5% or less.

17. An electrostatic charge image developer comprising the carrier according to claim 1 for developing an electrostatic charge image and a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image.

18. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image carrier;

a charging component that charges a surface of the image carrier;

an electrostatic charge image creating component that creates an electrostatic charge image on the charged surface of the image carrier;

a developing component that contains the electrostatic charge image developer according to claim 14 and develops, using the electrostatic charge image developer, the electrostatic charge image created on the surface of the image carrier to form a toner image;

a transfer component that transfers the toner image on the surface of the image carrier to a surface of a recording medium; and

a fixing component that fixes the toner image on the surface of the recording medium.