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United States Patent

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United States Patent 7,057,631
Nakamura ,   et al. June 6, 2006

Image forming process and image forming apparatus, electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, and electrophotographic print


Abstract

An object is to provide an image forming process, an image forming apparatus, and a color electrophotographic print that can provide a color electrophotograph that has a sufficient density in its dark area, has gloss, has a high glossiness over the entire densities covering bright areas (a white area and a highlight area), areas at intermediate densities, and dark areas (a black area and a shadow area) and can achieve high image quality equivalent to silver halide photographs. An image forming process produces an electrophotographic print which has a black density of 2.0 or more, a black color satisfying the following condition in the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) color space: (a*).sup.2+(b*).sup.2.ltoreq.9, and a 20-degree minimum glossiness of 60 or more.


Inventors: Nakamura; Yoshisada (Shizuoka, JP), Nogami; Yutaka (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (Kanagawa, JP)
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, JP)
Appl. No.: 10/668,246
Filed: September 24, 2003

Foreign Application Priority Data

Sep 26, 2002 [JP] 2002-281316
Sep 27, 2002 [JP] 2002-283463

Current U.S. Class: 347/115
Current International Class: G03G 13/00 (20060101); G03G 15/00 (20060101)
Field of Search: 347/153-156,262,264


References Cited

U.S. Patent Documents
5146344 September 1992 Bennett et al.
5318943 June 1994 Ueno et al.
5342671 August 1994 Stephenson
5484759 January 1996 Suto et al.
5809369 September 1998 Furuya et al.
6131010 October 2000 Kume et al.
2002/0102118 August 2002 Kosugi et al.
Foreign Patent Documents
0 817 462 Jan., 1998 EP
6-67468 Mar., 1994 JP
08-022217 Jan., 1996 JP
09-137082 May., 1997 JP
10 207113 Aug., 1998 JP
11-84719 Mar., 1999 JP
2001 013710 Jan., 2001 JP
2001 117263 Apr., 2001 JP
2001-117279 Apr., 2001 JP
2001 127989 May., 2001 JP
WO 01/56806 Aug., 2001 WO
Primary Examiner: Tran; Huan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

Claims



What is claimed is:

1. An image forming process comprising the step of: producing an electrophotographic print comprising: a black density of 2.0 or more, a black color satisfying the following condition in the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) color space: (a*).sup.2+(b*).sup.2.ltoreq.9, and a 20-degree minimum glossiness of 60 or more.

2. An image forming process according to claim 1, further comprising: capturing a digital image data and subjecting the digital image data to image processing and image output control to thereby form a digital image; rendering and developing a toner image from the digital image using four or more color toners including at least a yellow (Y) toner, a magenta (M) toner, a cyan (C) toner, and a black (K) toner, each of the toners having a volume-average particle diameter of 7 .mu.m or less and an average of shape factors represented by the following equation of from 1 to 1.5: Shape factor=(.pi..times.L.sup.2)/(4.times.S) wherein L is a maximum length of a toner particle; and S is a projection area of the toner particle; fixing the toner image on an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet to thereby form a toner image, the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet comprising: a support, and a toner-image-receiving layer containing at least a thermoplastic resin and being arranged on the support; and smoothing and glossing the toner image formed on the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet.

3. An image forming process according to claim 2, wherein the step of fixing the toner image and the step of smoothing and glossing the toner image comprise a primarily fixing the toner image onto the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, and further subjecting the toner image on the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet to secondary fixing, smoothing and glossing.

4. An image forming process according to claim 2, wherein the digital image data is at least one selected from (1) photographed data, (2) data obtained by additionally processing photographed data, (3) data photographed with a digital still camera (DSC), and (4) data captured from a digital video (DV) camera or recorder.

5. An image forming process according to claim 2, further comprising using, to perform the image processing and output control step, at least one selected from (1) an apparatus capable of capturing any image data from a portable memory on which image data are recorded, (2) an apparatus capable of accessing a network and capable of capturing accumulated image data from a server connected to the network, (3) an apparatus capable of scanning an analogue image and capturing the image as a digital image, (4) an apparatus capable of connecting to a mobile data terminal and capable of capturing image data in the mobile data terminal, (5) an apparatus capable of selectively performing any additional image processing, (6) an apparatus capable of distinguishing between characters and images and capable of performing a specific image processing, and (7) an apparatus using a three-dimensional look-up table (LUT).

6. An image forming process according to claim 2, wherein the toners comprise at least a binder resin and a coloring agent, have a volume-average particle diameter distribution coefficient (GSDv) of 1.3 or less, and a ratio (GSDv/GSDn) of the volume-average particle diameter distribution coefficient (GSDv) to a number-average particle diameter distribution coefficient (GSDn) of 0.95 or more.

7. An image forming process according to claim 2, wherein the toners further contain a releasing agent.

8. An image forming process according to claim 7, wherein the releasing agent is contained in an amount of 2% by mass to 20% by mass relative to the binder resin.

9. An image forming process according to claim 2, wherein the toners are six or more color toners containing at least a yellow (Y) toner, a magenta (M) toner, a cyan (C) toner, a black (K) toner, a light magenta (LM) toner, and a light cyan (LC) toner.

10. An image forming process according to claim 2, wherein the toners are produced by a process for producing a toner, comprising the steps of: (i) forming aggregated particles in a dispersion containing dispersed resin particles to thereby prepare an aggregated particle dispersion; (ii) adding a fine particle dispersion containing dispersed fine particles to the aggregated particle dispersion to apply the fine particles to the aggregated particles to thereby form attached particles; and (iii) heating the attached particles to fuse and unite the particles to thereby form toner particles.

11. An image forming process according to claim 2, wherein the image is rendered at a resolution of 1200 dpi or higher.

12. An image forming process according to claim 2, further comprising using, to perform the step of rendering and developing an image, one of (1) a multiple tandem development and image transfer device, and (2) an apparatus capable of rendering plural images and capable of automatically cutting a sheet.

13. An image forming process according to claim 2, further comprising performing oilless image-fixing without the use of a releasing oil as the image-fixing.

14. An image forming process according to claim 2, using, to perform the smoothing and shining process, a belt processor of cooling and releasing type, the belt processor comprising: hot-pressing means, a belt member, and cooling means.

15. An image forming process according to claim 14, wherein a heating temperature in the hot-pressing means is from 100.degree. C. to 180.degree. C.

16. An image forming process according to claims 14, wherein a surface of the belt member has one of a layer of fluorocarbon siloxane rubber, and a layer of silicone rubber and fluorocarbon siloxane rubber in which the silicone rubber and the fluorocarbon siloxane rubber are disposed in this order.

17. An image forming process according to claims 16, wherein the fluorocarbon siloxane rubber has at least one of a perfluoroalkylether group and a perfluoroalkyl group in a main chain thereof.

18. An image forming process according to claim 2, further comprising using, as the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet having an indicator on its back side.

19. An image forming process according to claim 18, wherein the indicator indicates at least one selected from a logo, a price, performance, a catch phrase, a company name, a trade name, a trade mark, a diagram, a picture, a pattern, information (exchangeable image file format information; EXIF information) on the image, information on the copyright of the image, names of a photographic machine used and a photographer, and information on image processing.

20. An image forming process according to claim 2, further comprising using an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet having a weight of 100 g/m.sup.2 or more and a thickness of 100 .mu.m or more.

21. An image forming process according to claim 2, further comprising using an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet having a rate of hygroscopic swelling of 1% or less.

22. An image forming process according to claim 2, wherein the support in the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet is one selected from raw paper, synthetic paper, a synthetic resin sheet, coated paper, and laminated paper.

23. An electrophotographic image-receiving sheet comprising: a support; and a toner-image-receiving layer containing at least a thermoplastic resin and being arranged at least on one side of the support, and having an indicator which is a printed character or image on its back side.

24. An electrophotographic image-receiving sheet according to claim 23, wherein the indicator indicates at least one selected from a logo, a price, performance, a catch phrase, a company name, a trade name, a trade mark, a diagram, a picture, a pattern, information (exchangeable image file format information; EXIF information) on the image, information on the copyright of the image, names of a photographic machine used and a photographer, and information on image processing.

25. An electrophotographic image-receiving sheet according to claim 23, wherein the indicator is arranged on the entire back side of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet.

26. An image forming apparatus for use in a process for forming an image by producing an electrophotographic print, the electrophotographic print comprising: a black density of 2.0 or more, a black color in the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) color space satisfying the following condition: (a*).sup.2+(b*).sup.2.ltoreq.9, and a 20-degree minimum glossiness of 60 or more, the image forming apparatus comprising a charging device for billing users by the usage.

27. An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, comprising: digital image processing and output control means for capturing a digital image data and subjecting the digital image data to image processing and image output control to thereby form the digital image; rendering and developing means for rendering and developing a toner image from the digital image using four or more color toners including at least a yellow (Y) toner, a magenta (M) toner, a cyan (C) toner, and a black (K) toner, each of the toners having a volume-average particle diameter of 7 .mu.m or less and an average of shape factors represented by the following equation of from 1 to 1.5: Shape factor=(.pi..times.L.sup.2)/(4.times.S) wherein L is a maximum length of a toner particle; and S is a projection area of the toner particles; toner image-fixing means for fixing the toner image on an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet to thereby form the toner image, the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet comprising: a support, and a toner-image-receiving layer containing at least a thermoplastic resin and being arranged on the support; and postprocessing means for smoothing and glossing the toner image formed on the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet.

28. An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, which is configured so as to be capable of connecting to a mobile data terminal and communicating with the mobile data terminal.

29. An electrophotographic print comprising: a black density of 2.0 more; a black color satisfying the following condition in the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) color space: (a*).sup.2+(b*).sup.2.ltoreq.9; and a 20-degree minimum glossiness of 60 or more.

30. An electrophotographic print according to claim 29, which is produced by an image forming process comprising the step of: capturing a digital image data and subjecting the digital image data to image processing and image output control to thereby form the digital image; rendering and developing a toner image from the digital image using four or more color toners including at least a yellow (Y) toner, a magenta (M) toner, a cyan (C) toner, and a black (K) toner, each of the toners having an average particle diameter of 7 .mu.m or less and an average of shape factors represented by the following equation of from 1 to 1.5: Shape factor=(.pi..times.L.sup.2)/(4.times.S) wherein L is a maximum length of a toner particle; and S is a projection area of the toner particles; fixing the toner image on an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet to thereby form the toner image, the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet comprising: a substrate, and a toner-image-receiving layer containing at least a thermoplastic resin and being arranged on the substrate; and smoothing and glossing the toner image formed on the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet.

31. A electrophotographic print according to claim 29, comprising a white color satisfying the following conditions in the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) color space: -2<a*<2, and -5<b*<1.

32. An electrophotographic print according to claim 29, which is a borderless print wherein an image is printed over the entire surface of the print.
Description



BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming process, an image forming apparatus, an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, and a color electrophotographic print which can produce an image with high quality equivalent to silver halide photographs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electrophotography is a process in which a latent electrostatic image is formed on a photoconductor as a result of photoconduction and applying colored charged fine particles (a toner) to the latent electrostatic image by action of electrostatic force to thereby form a visible image (toner image).

In electrophotography, many techniques which specify density and glossiness of images have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 06-67468 proposes an image forming process for producing a fixed image having a specular glossiness at an incident angle of 75 degrees of 40% or more, and an optical density of 2.0 or less.

JP-A No. 09-160315 discloses an image processor having image type identifying means based on a density control signal, and process control means for controlling glossiness based on the image type in order to control the glossiness imagewise.

JP-A No. 11-84719 discloses the relationship among an amount of an attached toner, a density, and glossiness. According to this technique, however, a 60-degree glossiness is low of at most 40, and the glossiness may decrease when a toner having a small average particle diameter is used.

JP-A No. 2001-22118 proposes a color toner for electrophotography having a specified relationship between a toner additive and an image density and exhibiting an image density after image-fixing of 1.2 to 2.0.

JP-A No. 2001-305756 proposes an image forming process in which the glossiness of an electrophotographic photoconductor changes 10% or less during continuous printing.

JP-A No. 2002-55495 discloses an electrophotographic two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner and having a 60-degree glossiness of 15% or more and an image density of 1.4 or more.

However, these conventional technologies do not achieve high density in terms of an optical density exceeding 2.0 and do not yield satisfactory gloss over the entire densities.

JP-A No. 2001-117279 proposes an image forming process in which a toner particle diameter is 7 .mu.m or less, a toner resin has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 19000 or less and a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 5000 or less, a 75-degree glossiness in a black area is from 90 to 110 and an optical density is from 1.8 to 2.5. According to this technique, however, a sufficient glossiness over the entire densities (particularly at intermediate densities) is not obtained, although the glossiness in the black area is sufficient.

Some of recording media for use in silver halide photographic printing, pictro printing, thermosensitive color printing, sublimation thermal transfer printing, and other printing systems have a logo on the back side. However, these printing techniques can form an image only on one side (i.e., front side) of a recording medium. In contrast, double-sided printing is generally implemented in electrophotography.

Attempts have been made to improve photographic quality such as imparting gloss in image-forming sheets for high quality electrophotography rich in photographic texture. However, electrophotographic prints having two glossy sides invite significant blocking between image-bearing surfaces and cannot yield high photographic quality on both sides.

Such an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet for electrophotography is generally capable of bearing a high-quality print rich in photographic texture on one side (front side) and exhibits different performance on its back side. To obtain photographic quality, the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet must be properly set in a sheet tray after distinguishing between its front side and back side. If the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet is set inversely in a sheet tray by mistake, an intended high-quality print rich in photographic texture is not obtained, troubles in an electrophotographic apparatus such as defective conveying of the sheet, offset, and dust occur, thus significantly adversely affecting other prints.

According to conventional technologies, media (electrophotographic image-receiving sheets), hardware such as a printer and a postprocessing device, and a toner are not optimized, sufficient glossiness over the entire densities covering bright areas (a white area and a highlight area), areas at intermediate densities, and dark areas (a black area and a shadow area) is not obtained, high image quality equivalent to silver halide photographs (photographic quality in its original meaning) is not achieved, and a printing system that can prevent misloading has not yet been provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming process, an image forming apparatus, an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, and a color electrophotographic print for a color electrophotograph that has a sufficient density in its dark area, has gloss, has high glossiness over the entire densities covering bright areas (a white area and a highlight area), areas at intermediate densities, and dark areas (a black area and a shadow area) and can achieve high image quality equivalent to silver halide photographs.

After intensive investigations to achieve the above object, the present inventors have found the following findings. Specifically, four or more color toners are generally used in color electrophotographic printing. A black image area can be formed by using three color toners, i.e., cyan, magenta, and yellow toners, but in this case, an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet must bear large amounts of toners. To avoid this, a black toner is used partially in such a black area, but the resulting black area often exhibits a subtle chromatic color. In regular documents, there is no necessity to set the density at 2.0 or more, and subtle difference in color is trivial. However, to print photographic images, the color of a black area and a sufficiently high density (2.0 or more) thereof are important factors in image quality. A black area can be formed by using a black toner alone, but in this case, a subtle color near to black cannot be significantly reproduced.

In order to increase the density in a black area, it is also effective to reduce the glossiness of the black area, as well as to apply a sufficient amount of a toner to an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet. Such a non-glossy black area is preferred in regular documents but is not preferred, and this technique cannot be employed in photographs. To sufficiently increase the density of a black area and to control its color finely, the amount of a toner on the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet inevitably increases. Thus, a difference in toner amount between an area bearing a larger amount of the toner and another area bearing a smaller amount of the toner or between an area bearing the toner and a white background increases, and the toner cannot be sufficiently embedded in the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet. In particular, unevenness due to the difference in toner amount often occurs in areas at intermediate densities, thus inviting reduced glossiness. However, the glossiness of a print is an important quality in photographic images and must be uniform over the entire densities covering bright areas, areas at intermediate densities, and dark areas. To maintain sufficient glossiness in areas at intermediate densities to black areas and to control subtle colors, it is important that the toner has sufficiently small and uniform particle diameter. Thus, toner images can be smoothened and glossed to thereby achieve desired quality.

The present inventors have also found that an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet mainly including a thermoplastic resin capable of receiving an embedded toner should be used to achieve sufficient gloss, and that the sheet must be sufficiently thick to achieve sufficient gloss over the entire densities. If the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet has an insufficient thickness and a large amount of a toner is embedded therein, the sheet cannot significantly eliminate unevenness of the toner. In addition, the toner layer in such a large amount occupies a larger portion of the total thickness of the sheet, and, as a whole, unevenness in thickness due to the toner is visually observed.

The present inventors made further investigations based on these findings and have found that a medium (electrophotographic image-receiving sheet), hardware such as a printer and a postprocessing device, and a toner must be optimized to obtain high quality in electrophotography equivalent to silver halide photographs. More specifically, they have found that by optimizing a combination of (i) a polymeric toner which has small and uniform particle diameters and can be applied to an oilless image-fixing process, (ii) a printer that can produce highly precise images and can be applied to thick paper, such as DCC-400 and DCC-500 (trade names, available from Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Japan), (iii) an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet specialized and optimized for photographs, and (iv) a postprocessing, a high-quality image can be obtained. Namely, the resulting image has image quality equivalent to silver halide photographs, has high glossiness over the entire densities covering bright areas (a white area and a highlight area), areas at intermediate densities, and dark areas (a black area and a shadow area) and has excellent graininess and a photo-like texture on hand.

Specifically, the present invention provides an image forming process including producing an electrophotographic print, the electrophotographic print having a black density of 2.0 or more, a black color satisfying the following condition in the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) color space: (a*).sup.2+(b*).sup.2.ltoreq.9, and a 20-degree minimum glossiness of 60 or more. The image forming process of the present invention preferably includes:

a digital image processing and output control step for capturing digital image data and subjecting the digital image data to image processing and image output control to thereby form a digital image;

a rendering and developing step for rendering and developing a toner image from the digital image using four or more color toners including at least a yellow (Y) toner, a magenta (M) toner, a cyan (C) toner, and a black (K) toner, each of the toners having a volume-average particle diameter of 7 .mu.m or less and an average of shape factors represented by the following equation of from 1 to 1.5: Shape factor=(.pi..times.L.sup.2)/(4.times.S) wherein L is a maximum length of a toner particle; and S is a projection area of the toner particle; a toner image-fixing step for fixing the toner image on an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet to thereby form a toner image, the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet comprising a support, and a toner-image-receiving layer comprising at least a thermoplastic resin and being arranged on the support; and

a postprocessing step for smoothing and glossing the toner image formed on the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet.

According to the image forming process of the present invention, a medium (electrophotographic image-receiving sheet), hardware such as a printer and a postprocessing device, and a toner can be optimized, sufficient glossiness can be obtained over the entire densities covering bright areas (a white area and a highlight area), areas at intermediate densities, and dark areas (a black area and a shadow area), and high image quality equivalent to silver halide photographs (photographic quality in its original meaning) can be achieved.

To distinguish between its front side and back side and to avoid printing on the back side before or after printing on the front side, an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet of the present invention has, on its back side, an indicator such as a logo, a price, performance, a catch phrase, a company name, a trade name, a trade mark, a diagram, a picture, a pattern, information (exchangeable image file format information; EXIF information) on the image, information on the copyright of the image, names of a photographic machine used and/or a photographer, and information on image processing. The front side and the back side of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet can be easily distinguished to thereby avoid misleading of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet on a sheet tray in an apparatus. Thus, troubles in the apparatus such as defective conveying of the sheet, offset, and dust can be avoided and adverse effects on other prints can be prevented. High-quality images having excellent gloss and smoothness and being rich in photographic texture can be obtained.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system flow chart of an example of an image forming process for producing a color electrophotographic print according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of a cooling and releasing procedure in a belt postprocessing device (endless press) for use in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus using a belt image-fixing member.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another example of an image forming apparatus using a belt image-fixing member.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example of an image-fixing unit using a belt image-fixing member.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a first image-fixing device in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a second image-fixing device in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example of a control system in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a dedicated glossy paper for use in a glossy print mode.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of the operation of secondary image-fixing in a secondary image-fixing device.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a digitally synthesized 1/6 gray solid image with a 6-step gray gradation from white background to black which is used in the examples below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Image Forming Process for Electrophotography and Color Electrophotographic Prints

The image forming process of the present invention can produce an electrophotographic print which photographic image quality, which electrophotographic print has a black density of 2.0 or more, a black color satisfying the following condition in the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) color space: (a*).sup.2+(b*).sup.2.ltoreq.9, and a 20-degree minimum glossiness of 60 or more.

The image forming process preferably comprises an image processing output control process, an image rendering and developing process, an image-fixing process using an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, and a postprocessing process (or image-fixing and glossing process) and may further comprise one or more additional processes selected according to the purpose.

According to, for example, the system flow shown in FIG. 1, the image forming process can produce images having high glossiness over the entire densities covering bright areas (a white area and a highlight area), areas at intermediate densities, and dark areas (a black area and a shadow area) with satisfactory image quality equivalent to silver halide photographs.

<Image Processing Output Control Process>

The image processing output control process is for capturing digital image data and subjecting the data to image processing and image output control.

The digital image data are not specifically limited, may be selected according to the purpose and include, for example, photographed data, and data obtained by subjecting the photographed data to additional processing.

Examples of the digital image data are (1) data photographed with a digital still camera (DSC), (2) data captured from a digital video (DV), and (3) data scanned from a silver halide photographic film or print. Each of these data can be used alone or in combination.

The image data (1) photographed with a DSC can reduce grains on a print due to a negative image and can thereby produce a desirable color electrophotographic print.

The data (2) captured from a digital video (DV) enables continuous shooting and printing and can produce continuous shooting prints and index prints.

An apparatus for the image processing and image output control is not specifically limited, may be selected according to the purpose and includes, for example, (1) an apparatus capable of capturing any image data from a portable memory on which image data are recorded, (2) an apparatus capable of accessing a network and capable of capturing image data accumulated in a server connected to the network, (3) an apparatus capable of scanning an analogue image and capturing the image as a digital image, (4) an apparatus capable of connecting to a mobile data terminal and capable of capturing image data in the mobile data terminal, (5) an apparatus capable of selectively performing any additional image processing, (6) an apparatus capable of distinguishing between characters and images and capable of performing a specific image processing, and (7) an apparatus using a three-dimensional look-up table (LUT). Each of these apparatus can be used alone or in combination.

Examples of the apparatus (1) capable of capturing any image data from a portable memory on which image data are recorded are CompactFlash Card readers, SmartMedia readers, Memory Stick readers, xD-Picture Card readers, CD-ROM readers, DVD-R readers, DVD-ROM readers, ZIP disk readers, and MO readers.

Examples of the apparatus (2) capable of accessing a network and capable of capturing accumulated image data from a server connected to the network are modems for analogue telephone lines, integrated services digital network (ISDN) terminal adapters, asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) modems, optical fiber communication modems, Ethernet adapters, local area wireless network (wireless LAN) adapters, and Bluetooth adapters.

Examples of the apparatus (3) capable of scanning an analogue image and capturing the image as a digital image are flatbed scanners, and drum scanners. Examples of shooting devices for use herein are charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors, and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (C-MOS) image sensors.

Examples of the apparatus (4) capable of connecting to a mobile data terminal and capable of capturing image data therefrom are cellular phone access units, microcellular phone access units, USB access units, wireless LAN adapters, Bluetooth adapters, CompactFlash Card type access units, and Memory Stick type access units. Examples of the mobile data terminal are cellular phones, microcellular phones, notebook computers, and personal data assistants (PDAs). These mobile data terminals are compact, lightweight and portable and can be connected to a network in various places.

Examples of the additional image processing in the apparatus (5) capable of selectively performing any additional image processing are framing, printing of a name, printing of date, sepia tone processing, monochrome tone processing, splitting, and close-up.

The three-dimensional look-up table (LUT) for use in the apparatus (7) is used to reproduce image data desirably on a print and can freely correct, without mixing, an image produced by digitized CCD signals derived from original image data as in a "gamma table".

<Rendering and Developing Process>

The rendering and developing process is for rendering and developing a toner image from a digital image using color toners.

The color toners preferably comprise four or more colors and include a yellow (Y) toner, a magenta (M) toner, a cyan (C) toner, and a black (K) toner. The color toners more preferably comprise six or more colors and include a yellow (Y) toner, a magenta (M) toner, a cyan (C) toner, a black (K) toner, a light magenta (LM) toner, and a light cyan (LC) toner.

--Color Toners--

Fine particles for use in the color toners are not specifically limited and may be selected according to the purpose. Preferred examples of the fine particles are those prepared by the following process. Initially, a toner material containing at least a binder resin and a coloring agent is added to an organic solvent and thereby yields a solution mixture (an oil phase) containing the dissolved binder resin and the dispersed coloring agent. The oil phase is suspended in an aqueous medium, and the organic solvent is removed from the suspension, and the residue is granulated to thereby yield the fine particles.

--Toner Binder Resins--

A binder resin for use in the toners is not specifically limited, may be selected according to the purpose, but is preferably a polyester resin. The acid value of the polyester resin of preferably 1 mgKOH/g to 50 mgKOH/g, and more preferably 3 mgKOH/g to 30 mgKOH/g as determined according to Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) K 0070. If the acid value is less than 1 mgKOH/g, a stable aqueous dispersion may not be obtained. If it exceeds 50 mgKOH/g, the toners may absorb excess amounts of water. The acid value of the polyester resin can be controlled by changing the proportional ratio of an acid component to an alcohol component or by neutralizing the acid with the alcohol.

The polyester resin for use herein preferably has a glass transition point Tg as determined with a differential scanning calorimeter of from 20.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. The glass transition point can be controlled by changing the compositional ratios of constitutional monomers. The polyester resin preferably has a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of from 2000 to 90000. If the number-average molecular weight (Mn) is less than 2000, fine particles may not be obtained by drying. If it exceeds 90000, the oil phase may become highly viscous.

Fine particles for use in the present invention may be produced by using the polyester resin having the above-specified acid value or glass transition point Tg in the following manner. Initially, a pigment is dispersed in, and the polyester resin is dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent to thereby yield an oil phase. A neutralizing agent is added to the oil phase to thereby ionize carboxyl groups of the polyester resin. Next, the oil phase is added to an aqueous medium to invert the phase, and the solvent is removed by distillation to thereby yield the fine particles. The oil phase may further comprise dispersed internal additives such as waxes and charge control agents. The resulting fine particles comprise an ionic polyester with a high acid value preferentially gathered on their surfaces and a wax and a polyester with a low acid value positioned in their cores.

While depending on the average particle diameter of the resulting toner, the average particle diameter of the fine particles is preferably from 0.05 .mu.m to 3 .mu.m, and more preferably from 0.1 .mu.m to 1 .mu.m. If the average particle diameter exceeds 3 .mu.m, a toner of a small particle diameter having a final average particle diameter of about 5 .mu.m may not be obtained. If it is less than 0.05 .mu.m, the particles may not be stably dispersed, and/or component waxes and pigments may not be satisfactorily dispersed.

The polyester resin for use as the binder resin may be produced by subjecting a polyhydric alcohol component and a polyvalent carboxylic acid component as polymerizable monomers to polycondensation, where necessary, in the presence of a catalyst.

Examples of the polyhydric alcohol component as the polymerizable monomer are diols such as polyoxypropylene(2.2)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, polyoxypropylene(3.3)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, polyoxyethylene(2.0)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, polyoxypropylene(2.0)-polyoxyethylene(2.0)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan- e, and polyoxypropylene(2.0)-polyoxyethylene(2.0)-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)- propane; as well as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, isopentyl glycol, hydrogenated bisphenol A, 1,3-butane diol, 1,4-butane diol, neopentyl glycol, xylylene glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, glycerol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, bis-(.beta.-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, tris-(.beta.-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate, and 2,2,4-trimethylolpentane-1,3-diol. Hydroxycarboxylic acid components, such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, dimethylolpropionic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid, can also be used herein.

Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid component are malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, dimer acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, dimethyl isophthalate, dimethyl terephthalate, monomethyl terephthalate, tetrahydroterephthalic acid, methyltetrahydrophthalic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, dimethyltetrahydrophthalic acid, endomethylene hexahydrophthalic acid, naphthalenetetracarbuxylic acid, diphenolic acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, trimesic acid, cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid, 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid, 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid, 2,2-bis-(4-carboxyphenyl)propane, diimidocarboxylic acid produced from trimellitic acid anhydride and 4,4-diaminophenylmethane, tris(.beta.-carboxyethyl)isocyanurate, polyimidocarboxylic acid containing an isocyanurate ring, and polyimidocarboxylic acid containing an isocyanate ring produced from a trimer reactant of tolylene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, or isophorone diisocyanate and trimellitic acid anhydride. Each of these compounds can be used alone or in combination. Among them, trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acids and trihydric and higher alcohols are preferred. Thus, a cross-linked polyester which is desirable in view of the fixing strength and stability such as anti-offset properties can be produced.

A desired polyester resin can be easily produced by subjecting these raw materials to polycondensation according to a conventional procedure. The binder resin preferably comprises a color toner resin having excellent transparency and color development properties and more preferably comprises two or more of the polyester resins obtained by the aforementioned process and having different glass transition points (Tgs) or different acid values for better toner image-fixing and better formation of particles.

Typical examples of the polyester resin for use as the binder and the physical properties thereof resin are shown in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Polyester resin R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 Alcohol Polyoxypropylene(2.2)- 100 100 100 100 component 2,2-bis(4- hydroxyphenyl)propane Ethylene glycol 80 Acid Terephthalic acid 100 20 80 10 component Isophthalic acid 20 Maleic anhydride 20 Trimellitic anhydride 10 Dodecenylsuccinic acid 60 Catalyst Dibutyltin oxide 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Polyester Molecular resin weight (Mw) Acid value Tg (.degree. C.) Tm (.degree. C.) R-1 9000 25 65 102 R-2 5000 8 50 85 R-3 8000 31 68 110 R-4 6000 6 49 75

The binder resin may further comprise another resin in addition to the polyester resin. Such other resins include, but are not limited to, styrene resins, acrylic resins, styrene-acrylic resins, silicone resins, epoxy resins, diene resins, phenolic resins, terpene resins, coumarin resins, amide resins, amide-imide resins, butyral resins, urethane resins, and ethylene-vinyl acetate resins.

The binder resin mainly comprises the polyester resin and comprises another resin in an amount of preferably from 0 part by mass to 30 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin.

The polyester resin in the toner material is dissolved in an organic solvent capable of dissolving the polyester resin. While depending on the constitutional components of the polyester, the organic solvent can be selected from, for example, toluene, xylenes, hexane, and other hydrocarbons; methylene chloride, chloroform, dichloroethanes, and other halogenated hydrocarbons; ethanol, butanol, benzyl alcohol, tetrahydrofuran, and other alcohols and ethers; methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, and other esters; acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diisobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, methylcyclohexanone, and other ketones. These organic solvents are capable of dissolving the polyester resin but may not dissolve the coloring agent and other additives. The mass ratio of the toner material to the organic solvent is preferably from 10:90 to 80:20, more preferably from 30:70 to 70:30, and further preferably from 40:60 to 60:40 for better formation of fine particles by suspension granulation and for better yield of toner particles by aggregation.

Examples of the neutralizing agent for neutralizing the polyester resin are aqueous ammonia, aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, and other basic aqueous solutions; allylamine, isopropylamine, diisopropylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, 2-ethylhexylamine, and other amines. The amount of the neutralizing agent is as enough as to neutralize the acid value of the polyester resin.

--Toner Coloring Agents--

The coloring agent is added together with the binder resin to a toner material composition and is dispersed in the fine particles. The coloring agent may further be incorporated into the fine particles by heteroaggregation during growth of the particles. Examples of the coloring agent are known or conventional organic pigments, inorganic pigments, and dyes such as Color Index (C.I.) Pigment Red 48:1, C.I. Pigment Red 57:1, C.I. Pigment Red 122, C.I. Pigment Yellow 17, C.I. Pigment Yellow 97, C.I. Pigment Yellow 12, C.I. Pigment Blue 15:1, C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3, lamp black (C.I. No. 77266), rose bengal (C.I. No.45432), carbon black, nigrosine dye (C.I. No. 50415B), metal complex salt dyes, derivatives of metal complex salt dyes, and mixtures of these substances. Examples of the coloring agent also include silica, aluminum oxide, magnetite and ferrites, cupric oxide, nickel oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, magnesium oxide, and other metal oxides, and mixtures of these substances.

The content of the coloring agent in the toner is preferably such that a visible image with sufficient density can be formed and is preferably from 1 part by mass to 100 parts by mass, and more preferably from 2 parts by mass to 20 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the toner, although it varies depending on the particle diameter and amount of the toner.

--Toner Wax(Releasing Agent)--

A wax(releasing agent) may be added to the toner material and/or may be incorporated into the toner by heteroaggregation during growth of the toner particles. The wax for use herein is preferably low-melting point wax having a melting point of 110.degree. C. or lower or a latent heat of fusion of 230 mJ/mg or less. Such a low-melting point wax effectively serves as a relating member between a fixing roller and a toner interface to thereby prevent offset at high temperatures. Waxes having a melting point exceeding 110.degree. C. or a latent heat of fusion exceeding 230 mJ/mg may not effectively serve as a releasing member. Those having a melting point of 30.degree. C. or lower may not exhibit sufficient anti-blocking properties and storage stability of the toner and are not desirable. The melting point is determined from a maximum endothermic peak in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

The wax for use herein is not specifically limited and may be selected according to the purpose, as long as it has releasing properties. Examples of the wax are naturally occurring waxes such as carnauba wax, cotton wax, Japan wax, rice bran wax, and other vegetable waxes; beeswax, lanolin, and other animal waxes; ozokerite, ceresine, and other mineral waxes: paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, petrolatum, and other petroleum waxes, as well as synthetic waxes such as Fischer-Tropsch wax, polyethylene wax, and other synthetic hydrocarbon waxes; 12-hydroxystearamide, stearamide, anhydrous phthalimide, and other fatty acid amides; chlorinated hydrocarbons; and esters, ketones, and ethers. In addition to the above materials, homopolymers or copolymers (for example, a copolymer of n-stearyl acrylate-ethyl methacrylate) of polyacrylates such as poly(n-stearyl methacrylate) and poly(n-lauryl methacrylate), and other crystalline polymers having a long alkyl group at the side chain and having a relatively low molecular weight are given as examples of the releasing agent. Among these materials, petroleum waxes or synthetic waxes such as paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax are preferred.

The micronization of the wax (releasing agent) can be performed by any one of conventionally known processes using, for example, an emulsifying and dispersing apparatus as described in Report-1 of Research Group on Reaction Engineering, "Emulsion Dispersion Technology and Particle Size Control of Polymer Fine Particles, Chapter 3" (published by The Society of Polymer Science, Japan, March, 1995). A process (dissolution/precipitation process) may be also used in which, using a suitable solvent which is compatible or miscible with an organic solvent used for producing a toner and does not dissolve a releasing agent at room temperature, a releasing agent is added to this solvent and dissolved under heat, followed by gradually cooling the resulting solution to room temperature to precipitate a micronized releasing agent. In addition, a process (vapor phase vaporizing process) may be used in which a releasing agent is heated and vaporized in an inert gas such as helium gas to prepare particles of the releasing agent in a vapor phase, in succession the particles are adsorbed by, for example, a cooled film to recover these particles, and the recovered particles are dispersed in a solvent. Further, each of these processes may preferably be combined with a mechanical milling process using a medium, which is more effective for micronization.

The amount of the wax(releasing agent) is preferably from 2% by mass to 20% by mass, and more preferably from 2% by mass to 10% by mass of the binder resin.

--Toner Other Components--

The toner of the present invention may also contain other components such as internal additives, charge control agents and inorganic particles. Examples of the internal additives are metals such as ferrite, magnetite, reduced iron, cobalt, nickel and manganese, alloys or magnetic bodies such as compounds containing these metals.

As the charge control agent, a compound for use in a powdery toner selected from metal salts of benzoic acid, metal salts of salicylic acid, metal salts of alkylsalicylic acid, metal salts of catechol, metal-containing bisazo dyes, tetraphenyl borate derivatives, quaternary ammonium salts, and alkylpyridinium salts and optional combinations of these compounds can be desirably used.

The amount of the charge control agent is preferably from 0.1% by mass to 10% by mass, and more preferably from 0.5% by mass to 8% by mass of the toner. If the amount is less than 0.1% by mass, the charge control agent may not sufficiently exhibit its charge control function. If it exceeds 10% by mass, the toner may have an excessively low resistance and may not be used in practice.

In addition, a metallic soap and an inorganic or organic metal salt may be used in combination with the above charge control agent. Examples of such a metallic soap include aluminum tristearate, aluminum distearate; stearates of barium, calcium, lead, and zinc; linolenic acid salts of cobalt, manganese, lead, and zinc; octanoates of aluminum, calcium, and cobalt; oleates of calcium and cobalt; zinc palmitate; naphthenates of calcium, cobalt, manganese, lead, and zinc; and resinates of calcium, cobalt, manganese, lead, and zinc. The inorganic or organic metal salts are, for example, salts in which a cationic moiety in the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of metals of Group Ia, Group IIa, and Group IIIa of the Periodic Table of Elements.

The amount of each of these charge control agents or cleaning aids is generally preferably from 0.1 part by mass to 10 parts by mass and more preferably from 0.1 part by mass to 5 parts by mass, relative to 100 parts by mass of the toner. If the amount is less than 0.1 part by mass, a desired effect may not be obtained sufficiently. In contrast, an amount exceeding 10 parts by mass may cause a reduction in the powder fluidity of the toner, which makes it difficult to use the resulting toner.

As the surfactant, ionic and nonionic surfactants can be used. Specific examples of anionic surfactants include alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, higher fatty acid salts, sulfates of higher fatty acid esters, and sulfonates of higher fatty acid esters. Examples of the cationic surfactants are primary, secondary, and tertiary amine salts, and quaternary ammonium salts. Examples of the nonionic surfactants are polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene dodecyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, and fatty acid alkylolamides. Each of these surfactants can be used alone or in combination. Preferably the surfactant is used in an amount ranging from 0.001 part by mass to 5 parts by mass relative to the aqueous medium in the aqueous phase.

Next, a process for producing a toner by aggregation of fine particles will be described, which fine particles have been formed by suspension granulation from the mixture solution of the toner materials. The fine particles having a polyester resin with a carboxylic salt on their surfaces are finely dispersed in the aqueous medium by action of an electric double layer. The zeta potential of the fine particles is preferably controlled within a range from 20 mV to 70 mV. By adding an electrolyte to the aqueous medium containing the dispersed fine particles under conditions such as to allow the polyester resin to be plasticized, the fine particles can grow to a desired toner particle diameter.

Examples of the electrolyte are sodium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium acetate, and other inorganic and organic water-soluble salts. The amount of the electrolyte is generally preferably 0.01 moles per liter to 2 moles per liter of an aqueous solution. The aqueous medium may be distilled water, ion-exchanged water, and other pure water but may further contain a known inorganic dispersing agent, a polymeric flocculating agent, and other components.

Preferably the fine particles are granulated in the aqueous medium under a high shearing condition. To produce toner particles having small particle diameters, a dispersing machine having a high speed shearing mechanism is preferably used. Among these dispersing machines, high-speed blade rotation type and forced gap-passing type homogenizers such as various homomixers, homogenizers, and colloid mills are more preferred.

During or after the process for granulating the fine particles, the organic solvent may be removed. The removal of the organic solvent may be performed at elevated temperatures or under reduced pressure. To remove the organic solvent at elevated temperatures, the organic solvent is preferably removed at a temperature in a range of which is lower than the boiling point of the organic solvent and does not largely exceed the glass transition point Tg of the binder resin. When the temperature for the removal of the solvent largely exceeds Tg of the binder resin, toners are probably fused each other, which is undesirable. Though a desirable temperature range depends on the boiling point of the organic solvent and Tg of the used binder resin, the organic solvent is preferably removed with stirring at a temperature around 40.degree. C. for 3 hours to 24 hours. When the removal is performed under reduced pressure, it is preferred to perform at a pressure of 20 mmHg to 150 mmHg.

To control the internal structure of the toner obtained by growth of the fine particles by aggregation, it is preferred that particles of another polyester having a different composition from that of the polyester in the fine particles are sequentially added. Thus, the fine particles are incorporated into the core of the toner at early stages of particle aggregation, and the polyester particles added thereafter cover the surface of the toner.

Preferably the resulting toner is washed to remove an inorganic dispersion stabilizer remained on the surfaces of the toner particles. For the washing, acids such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, formic acid, and acetic acid, which allows the inorganic dispersion stabilizer to be water-soluble, can be used. When these inorganic stabilizers and the aforementioned surfactants are hygroscopic and remain at the surface of the toner particles, the chargeability of the toners may vary depending on humidity and other surrounding conditions. It is therefore desirable that the inorganic dispersion stabilizer is removed from the surface of the toner by washing in order to eliminate an adverse influence on the chargeability and powder fluidity of the toner.

The toner washed with an acid or a base may be again washed with a basic aqueous solution such as sodium hydroxide as required. Thus, a part of ionic substances, which remains on the surface of the toner and is insolubilized under acidic conditions, is again solubilized by the basic aqueous solution and removed, with the result that the chargeability and the powder fluidity of the toner is improved. Furthermore, these washing treatments using an acid or a basic aqueous solution effectively remove free releasing agents (waxes) adhering to the surface of the toner. The washing treatment can be more efficiently carried out by appropriately selecting a stirrer and an ultrasonic dispersing apparatus used in the washing treatment as well as by controlling conditions of the pH of the washing liquid, number of washings, and washing temperature. After the washing, processes such as filtration, decantation, and centrifugation are performed, followed by drying to obtain a toner for electrophotography.

Known external additives may be added to the toner for use in the present invention to control the fluidity and the developing properties. Examples of the external additives are various inorganic oxide fine particles such as silica, alumina, titania, and cerium oxide, those produced by subjecting these fine particles to hydrophobic treatment as required, as well as vinyl polymers, and zinc stearate. The amount of the external additives is preferably in a range from 0.05 parts by mass to 5 parts by mass to 100 parts by mass of the toner particles before addition of the external additives.

The toner can be used in a known dry electrostatic charge developing process without any limitation. It can be adapted to, for example, a two-component developing process such as a cascade process, magnetic brush process, and micro-toning process and a one-component developing process such as an electroconductive one-component developing process and an insulating one-component developing process as well as a non-magnetic one component developing process. It is possible to design a unique process which effectively utilizes the low adhesion of the toner which is caused by its spherical shape.

The toner for electrophotography for use in the present invention mainly comprises, as a binder resin, a polyester resin that cannot be produced by a conventional dispersion polymerization and suspension polymerization and comprises low-melting-point resins in the core and surface thereof in a preferred proportion. The toner thereby has improved image-fixing properties at low temperatures and can avoid thermal blocking due to heating in an image-fixing process. The process for producing the toner for electrophotography can disperse a low-melting-point resin into a polyester resin by a specific granulation process and can thereby easily produce a toner having satisfactory properties as powder. In addition, the process can uniformly disperse a releasing agent and other additives as fine particles into the toner particles. Such a low-melting-point resin is not used in conventional kneading and pulverization processes.

The toner may also contain an external additive if necessary. Examples of this additive are inorganic powders and organic particles. Examples of inorganic particles are SiO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, ZnO, SnO.sub.2, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, BaO, CaO, K.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, ZrO.sub.2, CaO--SiO.sub.2, K.sub.2O--(TiO.sub.2), Al.sub.2O.sub.3-2SiO.sub.2, CaCO.sub.3, MgCO.sub.3, BaSO.sub.4 and MgSO.sub.4. Examples of organic particles are fatty acids and their derivatives, powdered metal salts thereof, and resin powders of fluorine resins, polyethylene resin and acrylic resins. The average particle diameter of these powders may for example be 0.01 .mu.m to 5 .mu.m, but is preferably 0.1 .mu.m to 2.mu.m.

There is no particular limitation on the process of manufacturing the toner, but it is preferably manufactured by a process comprising the steps of (i) forming cohesive particles in a dispersion of resin particles to manufacture a cohesive particle dispersion, (ii) adding a fine particle dispersion to the above cohesive particle dispersion so that the fine particles adhere to the cohesive particles, thus forming adhesion particles, and (iii) heating the above adhesion particles which melt to form toner particles.

--Physical Properties of the Toner--

The toner according to the present invention has a volume-average particle diameter of preferably 7 .mu.m or less and more preferably 5.5 .mu.m or less.

If the volume average particle diameter of the toner is too small, it may have an adverse effect on handling of the toner (supplementation, cleaning properties and flow properties), and particle productivity may decline. On the other hand, if the volume average particle damage is too large, it may have an adverse effect on image quality and resolution due to granularity and transfer properties.

It is preferred that the toner according to the present invention satisfies the above toner volume average particle diameter range, and that the volume average particle distribution index (GSDv) is 1.3 or less.

It is preferred that the ratio (GSDv/GSDn) of the volume average polymer distribution index (GSDv) and number average particle distribution index (GSDn) is 0.95 or more.

The toner preferably has a volume-average particle diameter distribution coefficient within the above-specified range and has an average of shape factors represented by the following equation of from 1.0 to 1.5 and more preferably from 1.05 to 1.4. Shape coefficient=(.pi..times.L.sup.2)/(4.times.S) (where, L is the maximum length of the toner particles, and S is the projection surface area of a toner particle).

When the toner has a volume-average particle diameter and a shape factor within the above-specified ranges, the toner serves to improve image quality such as graininess and resolution, is resistant to missing and/or blur accompanied with image transfer and does not invite deteriorated handleability even if the toner does not have a small average particle diameter.

The storage modulus G' (measured at an angular frequency of 10 rad/sec) of the toner itself at 150.degree. C. is 10 Pa to 200 Pa, which is convenient for improving image quality and preventing offset in the fixing step.

The resolution of rendering a toner image from the digital image using color toners in the rendering and developing process is preferably 12000 dpi or higher and more preferably 2400 dpi or higher.

If the resolution is less than 1200 dpi, the resulting image may become rough.

A device for use in the rendering and developing process is not specifically limited, may be selected according to the purpose and includes, for example, (1) a multiple tandem development and image transfer device, and (2) an apparatus capable of rendering plural images and capable of automatically cutting a print.

The multiple tandem development and image transfer device (1) may have, for example, a configuration used in DCC400 (trade name, available from Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Japan) shown in FIG. 2. This device can produce color printed output at a high speed.

An example of the apparatus (2) capable of rendering plural images and capable of automatically cutting a print is a Docucutter DC 545 (trade name, available from Xerox Corporation, Conn.).

<Electrophotographic Image-Receiving Sheet>

The electrophotographic image-receiving sheet of the present invention comprises a support and at least a toner-image-receiving layer comprising a thermoplastic resin and being arranged on the support. It may further comprise at least one of additional layers appropriately selected according to necessity. Such additional layers include, for example, surface protective layers, interlayers, undercoat layers, cushioning layers, charge-control or antistatic layers, reflective layers, color-control layers, storage-stability improving layers, adhesion preventing layers, anticurling layers, and smoothing layers. Each of these layers can be a single layer or a multilayer.

The electrophotographic image-receiving sheet has an indicator on its back side. The term "back side" of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet used herein means a side of a support on which a toner-image-receiving layer is not arranged when the toner-image-receiving layer is arranged on only one side of the support.

When toner-image-receiving layers are arranged on both sides of the support, the "back side" can be whichever side. However, such an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet has a front side and a back side having different properties to avoid blocking and to achieve high photographic quality. Thus, the indicator is arranged on the back side as specified during its production to have different properties or functions, regardless of the presence or absence of a toner-image-receiving layer.

The "indicator" as used herein means an indication which is arranged to distinguish between the front side and the back side of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet and to avoid printing on the back side by mistake before or after printing on the front side.

Certain electrophotographic image-receiving sheets having a printed character or image such as postal code section on their back side have been provided. However, these electrophotographic image-receiving sheets are intended to print on both sides thereof, and the printed character or image is not provided for distinguishing between the front side and the back side. Accordingly, these conventional electrophotographic image-receiving sheets can be clearly distinguished from the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet of the present invention.

It is preferred that the indicator on the back side has been printed in a production process of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet.

Alternatively, it is preferred that the indicator on the back side is printed on the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet during an image forming process. This is, for example, in the case of New Year greeting postcards. In this case, an apparatus capable of printing on both sides of the sheet is preferably used in the image forming process.

The indicator is not specifically limited, as long as it plays a role to distinguish between the front side and the back side based on visual observation of a user, and includes, for example, a logo, a price, performance, a catch phrase, a company name, a trade name, a trade mark, a diagram, a picture, a pattern, information (exchangeable image file format information; EXIF information) on the image, information on the copyright of the image, names of a photographic machine used and/or a photographer, and information on image processing. Among them, a logo, a company name, and a trade name are preferred as the indicator for imparting a promotional effect and a design to the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet and increasing its commercial value.

The EXIF information means a file format for digital still cameras, which is specified as a Standard of Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA) and has been developed by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Japan. Digital still cameras in Japan often employ this file format on a JPEG image format which is capable of including, for example, information on shooting and images such as shooting date as well as thumbnail-size images.

The indicator can be arranged in any region on the back side of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet and is preferably arranged over the entire back side of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet for further clearly distinguishing between the front side and the back side.

[Support]

Examples of the support are raw paper, synthetic paper, a synthetic resin sheet, coated paper, and laminated paper. Each of these supports can have a single layer structure or a multilayer structure.

--Raw Paper--

Materials for the raw paper are not specifically limited and can be selected from those used for known raw paper for use as supports and include, for example, natural pulp such as softwood pulp and hardwood pulp; synthetic pulp such as those made from plastic materials such as polyethylenes and polypropylenes; and mixtures of natural pulp and synthetic pulp.

The pulp for use as the material for the raw paper is preferably latifoliate tree bleached kraft pulp (LBKP) for satisfactorily balanced surface smoothness, rigidity and dimensional stability (anti-curling properties) at sufficient level. Needle-leafs tree bleached kraft pulp (NBKP), latifoliate tree sulfite pulp(LBSP), and other pulp can also be used as the pulp.

The pulp preferably mainly comprises latifoliate tree pulp inherently having shorter fibers.

The pulp can be beaten with a beater or refiner. A pulp slurry (hereinafter referred to as "pulp stock") obtained by beating the pulp may further comprise various additives. Such additives include, but are not limited to, fillers, agents for enhancing dry strength of paper, sizing agents, agents for enhancing wet strength of paper, bonding agents, pH adjusters, and other agents.

The fillers include, but are not limited to, calcium carbonate, clay, kaolin, China clay, talc, titanium dioxide, diatomaceous earth, barium sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide.

The agents for enhancing dry strength of paper include, but are not limited to, cationized starch, cationic polyacrylamides, anionic polyacrylamides, amphoteric polyacrylamides, and carboxy-modified poly(vinyl alcohol)s.

The sizing agents include, but are not limited to, fatty acid salts, rosin, maleic acid-added rosin, and other rosin derivatives, paraffin waxes, alkyl ketene dimers, alkenyl succinic anhydrides (ASAs); and compounds containing higher fatty acids such as epoxidized fatty acid amides.

The agents for enhancing wet strength of paper include, but are not limited to, polyamine-polyamide-epichlorohydrin, melamine resins, urea resins, and epoxidized polyamide resins.

The bonding agents (fixing agents) include, but are not limited to, aluminum sulfate, aluminum chloride, and other polyvalent metallic salts; cationized starch and other cationic polymers.

The pH adjusters include, but are not limited to, sodium hydroxide, and sodium carbonate. The other agents include, but are not limited to, antifoaming agents, dyes, slime control agents, and fluorescent brightening agents (fluorescent whitening agents).

The pulp stock may further comprise a softening agent. Examples of the softening agent can be found in, for example, New Paper Processing Handbook (Shigyo Taimususha Ltd., Japan) p. 554 555 (1980).

A composition for use in surface sizing may comprise, for example, a water-soluble polymer, a sizing agent, a water-resistant substance, a pigment, a pH adjuster, a dye, and/or a fluorescent brightening agent. Such water-soluble polymers include, but are not limited to, cationized starch, poly(vinyl alcohol)s, carboxy-modified poly(vinyl alcohol)s, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, cellulose sulfate, gelatin, casein, poly(sodium acrylate)s, sodium salt of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers, and poly(sodium styrenesulfonate)s.

Examples of the water-resistant substance are latices and emulsions of, for example, styrene-butadiene copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyethylenes, vinylidene chloride copolymers, and polyamide-polyamine-epichlorohydrin.

Examples of the pigment are calcium carbonate, clay, kaolin, talc, barium sulfate, and titanium dioxide.

Examples of the materials for the raw paper also include synthetic pulp paper, mixed paper of naturally occurring pulp and synthetic pulp and a variety of combination paper, in addition to the naturally occurring pulp paper.

To improve the rigidity (stiffness) and dimensional stability (anti-curling properties) of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, the raw paper preferably has the ratio (Ea/Eb) of a longitudinal Young's modulus Ea to a transverse Young's modulus Eb of from 1.5 to 2.0. If the ratio Ea/Eb is less than 1.5 or exceeds 2.0, the rigidity and anti-curling properties of the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet may apt to decrease, thus the resulting electrophotographic image-receiving sheet may not be carried or conveyed satisfactorily.

The Oken type smoothness of the raw paper on the image forming layer side is preferably 210 seconds or more, and more preferably 250 seconds or more. If the Oken type smoothness is less than 210 seconds, the resulting toner image may have deteriorated quality. Although the upper limit of the Oken type smoothness is not specifically limited, it is actually about 600 seconds, and preferably about 500 seconds.

The Oken type smoothness used herein means a smoothness specified in No. 5, process B by Japan Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (JAPAN TAPPI).

It has been found that in general, the "tone" of the paper differs based on differences in the way the paper is beaten, and the elasticity (modulus) of paper from paper-making after beating can be used as an important indication of the "tone" of the paper. The elastic modulus of the paper may be calculated from the following equation by using the relation of the dynamic modulus which shows the physical properties of a viscoelastic object and density, and measuring the velocity of sound propagation in the paper using an ultrasonic oscillator. E=.rho.c.sup.2(1-n.sup.2)

In equation, E is a dynamic modulus of elasticity; .rho. is a density; c is a sonic velocity in the paper; and n is a Poisson's ratio.

As n=0.2 in the case of ordinary paper, there is not much difference in the calculation if the calculation is performed by the following equation: E=.rho.c.sup.2

That is, if the density of the paper and acoustic velocity can be measured, the elastic modulus can easily be calculated. In the above equation, when measuring acoustic velocity, various instruments known in the art may be used, such as a Sonic Tester SST-110 (Nomura Shoji Co., Ltd.).

The thickness of the raw paper is preferably from 30 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m, more preferably from 50 .mu.m to 300 .mu.m, and further preferably from 100 .mu.m to 250 .mu.m. The basis weight of the raw paper is, for example, preferably from 50 g/m.sup.2 to 250 g/m.sup.2, and more preferably from 100 g/m.sup.2 to 200 g/m.sup.2.

Preferred examples of the raw paper are woodfree paper and paper described in "Basis of Photographic Technology--silver halide photography--" edited by The Society of Photographic Science and Technology of Japan, Corona Publishing Co., Ltd., Japan, pp. 223 240 (1979).

In the above raw paper, it is preferred to use pulp fibers having a fiber length distribution as disclosed for example by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 58-68037 (e.g., the sum of 24-mesh screen residue and 42-mesh screen residue is 20% by mass to 45% by mass, and 24-mesh screen residue is 5% by mass or less) in order to give the desired center line average roughness to the surface. Moreover, the center line average roughness can be adjusted by giving a surface treatment of heat and pressure in a machine calender, super calender, etc.

--Synthetic Paper--

The synthetic paper is paper mainly comprising polymer fibers other than cellulose fibers. Such polymer fibers include, for example, fibers of polyolefins such as polyethylenes and polypropylenes.

--Synthetic Resin Sheet (Film)--

The synthetic resin sheet (film) includes, for example, sheets molded from a synthetic resin. Examples of such sheets are polypropylene sheets, oriented polyethylene sheets, oriented polypropylene sheet, polyester films, oriented polyester films, nylon films, films which has become white by drawing, and white films containing a white pigment.

--Coated Paper--

The coated paper is paper having a coat of a resin, a rubber latex, or a polymer material at least on one side thereof. The amount of the coat varies depending on the use. Such coated paper includes, for example, art paper, cast coated paper, and Yankee paper.

The resin to be applied to the surface of the raw paper or other material is preferably a thermoplastic resin. Examples of such thermoplastic resins are the following thermoplastic resins (i) through (viii).

(i) Polyethylene resins, polypropylene resins, and other polyolefin resins; copolymer resins comprising an olefin such as ethylene or propylene with another vinyl monomer; and acrylic resins.

(ii) Thermoplastic resins having an ester bond such as polyester resins obtained by the condensation of a dicarboxylic acid component which may be substituted with, for example, a sulfone group, or a carboxyl group, with an alcohol component which may be substituted with, for example, a hydroxyl group; polyacrylate or polymethacrylate resins such as poly(methyl methacrylate)s, poly(butyl methacrylate)s, poly(methyl acrylate)s, and poly(butyl acrylate)s; polycarbonate resins; poly(vinyl acetate) resins; styrene-acrylate resins; styrene-methacrylate resins; and vinyltoluene-acrylate resins.

Typical disclosure of the resins (i) can be found in, for example, JP-A No. 59-101395, JP-A No. 63-7971, JP-A No. 63-7972, JP-A No. 63-7973, and JP-A No. 60-294862.

Such polyester resins are commercially available under the trade names of, for example, Vylon 290, Vylon 200, Vylon 280, Vylon 300, Vylon 103, Vylon GK-140, and Vylon GK-130 from Toyobo Co., Ltd.; Tuftone NE-382, Tuftone U-5, ATR-2009, and ATR-2010 from Kao Corporation; Elitel UE 3500, UE 3210, XA-8153, KZA-7049, and KZA-1449 from Unitika Ltd.; and Polyestar TP-220, and R-188 from Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.; Hiros series products available from Seiko Chemical Industries Co., Ltd., Japan, and other thermoplastic resins.

(iii) Polyurethane resins.

(iv) Polyamide resins and urea resins.

(v) Polysulfone resins.

(vi) Polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinylidence chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-copolymer resin and vinyl chloride-vinyl propionate copolymer resin.

(vii) Polyol resins such as polyvinyl butyral, and cellulose resins such as ethyl cellulose resin and cellulose acetate resin.

(viii) Polycaprolactone resin, styrene-maleic anhydride resin, polyacrylonitrile resin, polyether resins, epoxy resins and phenol resins.

Each of these thermoplastic resins can be used alone or in combination.

Where necessary, the resin may further comprise any of additives such as brightening agents (whitening agents), conductant agents, fillers, and pigments and dyes such as titanium oxide, ultramarine blue, and carbon black.

--Laminated Paper--

The laminated paper is paper comprising a sheet such as raw paper, and a sheet or film laminated on the base sheet. As the laminate layer, various resins, rubber latex and polymer material may be used. Specific example of the materials useable for the lamination include polyolefins, poly(vinyl chloride)s, poly(ethylene terephthalate)s, polystyrenes, polymethacrylates, polycarbonates, polyimides and triacetylcellulose. Each of these resins can be used alone or in combination.

Generally, a low-density polyethylene is used as the polyolefin. However, for improving the thermal resistance of the support, it is preferred to use polypropylene, a blend of polypropylene and polyethylene, a high-density polyethylene, or a blend of the high-density polyethylene and a low-density polyethylene. From the viewpoint of cost and its suitableness for the lamination, it is preferred to use the blend of the high-density polyethylene and the low-density polyethylene

The blend of the high-density polyethylene and the low-density polyethylene is used in a blend ratio (a mass ratio) of, for example, 1:9 to 9:1, preferably 2:8 to 8:2, and more preferably 3:7 to 7:3. When the polyethylene is applied to both surfaces of the support, the polyolefin to be applied to the back side of the support is, for example, preferably the high-density polyethylene or a blend of the high-density polyethylene and the low-density polyethylene. The molecular weight of the polyethylenes is not particularly limited. Desirably, both of the high-density polyethylene and the low-density polyethylene have a melt index of 1.0 g/10 min to 40 g/10 min. and a high extrudability.

The sheet or film to be laminated may be subjected to a treatment to impart white reflection thereto. For example, a pigment such as titanium dioxide is incorporated into the sheet or film.

The thickness of the support is preferably from 25 .mu.m to 300 .mu.m, more preferably from 50 .mu.m to 260 .mu.m, and further preferably from 75 .mu.m to 220 .mu.m. The support can have any rigidity according to the purpose. When it is used as a support for electrophotographic image-receiving sheet of photographic image quality, the rigidity thereof is preferably near to that in a support for use in color silver halide photography.

[Toner-image-receiving Layer]

The toner-image-receiving layer is a toner-image-receiving layer for receiving a color or black toner to form an image. The toner-image-receiving layer receives a toner for image formation from a development drum or an intermediate transfer member by action of (static) electricity or pressure in a transfer process and fixes the toner as an image by action of, for example, heat and/or pressure in an image-fixing process.

To impart photographic texture to the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, the toner-image-receiving layer is preferably has low optical transparency in terms of an optical transmittance of 78% or less, more preferably 73% or less, and further preferably 72% or less.

The optical transmittance can be determined by forming a coated film having the same thickness as the toner-image-receiving layer on a polyethylene terephthalate film (100 .mu.m thick), and measuring the optical transmittance of the coated film with a direct-reading haze mater HGM-2DP (trade name, available from Suga Test Instruments, Japan).

The toner-image-receiving layer comprises at least a thermoplastic resin and may further comprise other components.

--Thermoplastic Resins--

Thermoplastic resins for use in the present invention are not specifically limited as long as they can deform at temperatures during, for example, image-fixing and can receive the toner. They can be appropriately selected depending on an intended purpose and are preferably similar or the same resin as the binder resin of the toner. Polyester resins, styrene resins, styrene-butyl acrylate, and other copolymer resins are often used in most of such toners, and the image-receiving sheet preferably comprise any of these polyester resins, styrene resins, styrene-butyl acrylate, and other copolymer resins more preferably in an amount of 20% by mass or more. As the thermoplastic resins, styrene-acrylic ester copolymers and styrene-methacrylic ester copolymers are also preferred.

Examples of the thermoplastic resins are (i) resins each having an ester bond, (ii) polyurethane resins and similar resins, (iii) polyamide resins and similar resins, (iv) polysulfone resins and similar resins, (v) poly(vinyl chloride) resins and similar resins, (vi) poly(vinyl butyral) and similar resins, (vii) polycaprolactone resins and similar resins, and (viii) polyolefin resins and similar resins.

The resins (i) having an ester bond include, for example, polyester resins obtained by condensation of a dicarboxylic acid component with an alcohol component. Such dicarboxylic acid components include, but are not limited to, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, abietic acid, succinic acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, and other dicarboxylic acids. Each of these dicarboxylic acid components may have a sulfonic acid group, a carboxyl group, or another group substituted thereon. The alcohol components include, but are not limited to, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, bisphenol A, diether derivatives of bisphenol A (e.g., an ethylene oxide diadduct of bisphenol A, and a propylene oxide diadduct of bisphenol A), bisphenol S, 2-ethylcyclohexyldimethanol, neopentyl glycol, cyclohexyldimethanol, glycerol, and other alcohols. Each of these alcohol components may have a hydroxyl group or another group substituted thereon. The resins (i) also include poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate), poly(methyl acrylate), poly(butyl acrylate), and other polyacrylic ester resins and polymethacrylic ester resins, polycarbonate resins, poly(vinyl acetate) resins, styrene-acrylate resins; styrene-methacrylate copolymer resins, and vinyltoluene-acrylate resins.

Typical disclosure of the resins (i) can be found in, for example, JP-A No. 59-101395, JP-A No. 63-7971, JP-A No. 63-7972, JP-A No. 63-7973, and JP-A No. 60-294862.

Such polyester resins are commercially available under the trade names of, for example, Vylon 290, Vylon 200, Vylon 280, Vylon 300, Vylon 103, Vylon GK-140, and Vylon GK-130 from Toyobo Co., Ltd.; Tuftone NE-382, Tuftone U-5, ATR-2009, and ATR-2010 from Kao Corporation; Elitel UE 3500, UE 3210, and XA-8153 from Unitika Ltd.; and Polyestar TP-220, and R-188 from Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

The acrylic resins are commercially available under the trade names of, for example, Dianal SE-5437, SE-5102, SE-5377, SE-5649, SE-5466, SE-5482, HR-169, HR-124, HR-1127, HR-116, HR-113, HR-148, HR-131, HR-470, HR-634, HR-606, HR-607, LR-1065, LR-574, LR-143, LR-396, LR-637, LR-162, LR469, LR-216, BR-50, BR-52, BR-60, BR-64, BR-73, BR-75, BR-77, BR-79, BR-80, BR-83, BR-85, BR-87, BR-88, BR-90, BR-93, BR-95, BR-100, BR-101, BR-102, BR-105, BR-106, BR-107, BR-108, BR-112, BR-113, BR-115, BR-116, and BR-117 from Mitsubishi Ravon Co., Ltd.; Eslec P SE-0020, SE-0040, SE-0070, SE-0100, SE-1010, and SE-1035 from Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.; Himer ST 95, and ST 120 from Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.; and FM 601 from Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

The poly(vinyl chloride) resins and similar resins (v) include, for example, poly(vinyl chloride) resins, poly(vinylidene chloride) resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resins, and vinyl chloride-vinyl propionate copolymer resins.

The poly(vinyl butyral) and similar resins (vi) include, for example, poly(vinyl butyral), polyol resins, as well as ethylcellulose resins, cellulose acetate resins, and other cellulosic resins. These resins (f) are also commercially available from, for example, Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha and Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. The poly(vinyl butyral) for use herein preferably comprises vinyl butyral in a content of 70% by mass or more and has an average polymerization degree of preferably 500 or more and more preferably 1000 or more. Such poly(vinyl butyral) is commercially available under the trade names of, for example, Denka Butyral 3000-1, 4000-2, 5000A, and 6000C from Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha; and Eslec BL-1, BL-2, BL-3, BL-S, BX-L, BM-1, BM-2, BM-5, BM-S, BH-3, BX-1, and BX-7 from Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

The polycaprolactone resins and similar resins (vii) further include, for example, styrene-maleic anhydride resins, polyacrylonitrile resins, polyether resins, epoxy resins, and phenol resins.

The polyolefin resins and similar resins (viii) include, for example, polyethylene resins, polypropylene resins, copolymer resins of an olefin such as ethylene or propylene with another vinyl monomer, and acrylic resins.

Each of these thermoplastic resins can be used alone or in combination. Mixtures of these thermoplastic resins and copolymers of monomers constituting the same can also be used.

The thermoplastic resin is preferably such a thermoplastic resin as to satisfy the requirements in the physical properties of a toner image receiving layer comprising the thermoplastic resin in question and is more preferably such a thermoplastic resin that can satisfy, by itself, the requirements. It is also preferred that two or more resins exhibiting different physical properties as the toner image receiving layer are used in combination.

The thermoplastic resin preferably has a molecular weight larger than that of a thermoplastic resin used in the toner. However, this relationship in molecular weight between two thermoplastic resins may not be applied to some cases. For example, when the thermoplastic resin used in the toner image receiving layer has a softening point higher than that of the thermoplastic resin used in the toner, the former thermoplastic resin may preferably have a molecular weight equivalent to or lower than that of the latter thermoplastic resin.

A mixture of resins having the same composition but different average molecular weights is also preferably used as the thermoplastic resin. The relationship in molecular weight between the thermoplastic resin used in the toner image receiving layer and that used in the toner is preferably one disclosed in JP-A No. 08-334915.

The thermoplastic resin preferably has a particle size distribution larger than that of the thermoplastic resin used in the toner.

The thermoplastic resin preferably satisfies the requirements in physical properties as disclosed in, for example, JP-A No. 05-127413, No. 08-194394, No. 08-334915, No. 08-334916, No. 09-171265, and No. 10-221877.

The thermoplastic resin for use in the toner-image-receiving layer is typically preferably at least one of water-soluble resins, water-dispersible resins, and other aqueous resins for the following reasons (i) and (ii).

(i) These aqueous resins do not invite exhaustion of an organic solvent in a coating and drying process and are thereby environment friendly and have good workability.

(ii) Most of waxes and other releasing agents cannot be significantly dissolved in solvents at room temperature and are often dispersed in a medium (water or an organic solvent) before use. Such aqueous dispersions are more stable and suitable in production processes. When an aqueous composition containing the thermoplastic resin and a wax is applied, the wax readily bleeds out on the surface of a coated layer, thus yielding the effects of the releasing agent (anti-offset properties and adhesion resistance) more satisfactorily.

The aqueous resins are not specifically limited in their compositions, bonding configurations, molecular structures, molecular weights, molecular weight distributions, shapes, and other factors and can be appropriately selected depending on an intended purpose, as long as they are water-soluble or water-dispersible resins. Examples of groups that impart hydrophilicity to polymers are sulfonic acid groups, hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, amino groups, amide groups, and ether groups.

Typical disclosure of the aqueous resins can be found in, for example, Research Disclosure No. 17,643, pp. 26; Research Disclosure No. 18,716, pp. 651; Research Disclosure No. 307,105, pp. 873 874; and JP-A No. 64-13546, pp. 71 75 (in Japanese).

Examples of such aqueous resins are vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymers, styrene-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers, water-soluble polyesters, water-soluble acrylics, water-soluble polyurethanes, water-soluble nylons (water-soluble polyamides), and water-soluble epoxy resins. Moreover, various types of gelatins may be selected according to the purpose from among liming gelatin, acid-treated gelatin and deliming gelatin wherein the content of calcium, etc., is reduced, and it is also preferable to use these in combination. Examples of water-soluble polyesters are various Pluscoats from Goo Chemical Co., Ltd. and the Finetex ES series from Dainippon Ink & Chemicals In. Examples of water-soluble acrylics are the Jurymer AT series from Nihon Junyaku Co., Ltd., Finetex 6161 and K-96 from Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Inc., and Hiros NL-1189 and BH-997L from Seiko Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.

Examples of water dispersible resins are water-dispersible type resins such as water-dispersible acrylate resin, water-dispersible polyester resin, water-dispersible polystyrene resin and water-dispersible urethane resin; and emulsions such as acrylate resin emulsion, polyvinyl acetate emulsion and SBR (styrene butadiene) emulsion. The resin can be conveniently selected from an aqueous dispersion of the above thermoplastic resins (i) to (viii), their emulsions, or their copolymers, mixtures and cation-modified derivatives, and two or more sorts can be combined.

Examples of the above water-dispersible resins in the polyester class are the Vylonal Series from Toyobo Co., Ltd, the Pesresin A Series from Takamatsu Oil & Fat Co., Ltd., the Tuftone UE Series from Kao Corporation, the WR Series from Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and the Elitel Series from Unitika Ltd., and in the acrylic class are the Hiros XE, KE and PE series from Seiko Chemical Industries Co., Ltd., and the Jurymer ET series from Nihon Junyaku Co., Ltd.

It is preferred that the film-forming temperature (MFT) of the polymer is above room temperature for storage before printing, and is less than 100.degree. C. for fixing of toner particles.

The thermoplastic resin for use in the present invention is preferably a self-dispersible polyester resin emulsion satisfying the following conditions (1) to (4). This type of polyester resin emulsion is self-dispersible requiring no surfactant, is low in moisture absorbency even in an atmosphere at high humidity, exhibits less decrease in its softening point due to moisture and can thereby avoid offset in image-fixing and failures due to adhesion between sheets during storage. The emulsion is water-based and is environmentally friendly and excellent in workability. In addition, the polyester resin used herein readily takes a molecular structure with high cohesive energy. Accordingly, the resin has sufficient hardness (rigidity) during its storage but is melted with low elasticity and low viscosity during an image-fixing process for electrophotography, and the toner is sufficiently embedded in the toner-image-receiving layer to thereby form images having sufficiently high quality.

(1) The number-average molecular weight Mn is preferably from 5000 to 10000 and more preferably from 5000 to 7000.

(2) The molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) is preferably 4 or less, and more preferably 3 or less, wherein Mw is the weight-average molecular weight.

(3) The glass transition temperature Tg is preferably from 40.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. and more preferably from 50.degree. C. to 80.degree. C.

(4) The volume average particle diameter is preferably from 20 nm to 200 nm and more preferably from 40 nm to 150 nm.

The amount of the thermoplastic resin is generally preferably 20% by mass or more, and more preferably 30% by mass to 100% by mass of the toner-image-receiving layer.

The thickness of the toner-image-receiving layer is preferably one half or more, and more preferably one to three times the average particle diameter of the toner. The thickness of the toner-image-receiving layer is preferably those disclosed in JP-A No. 05-216322 and JP-A No. 07-301939 and is, for example, preferably from 1 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m, and more preferably from 5 .mu.m to 15 .mu.m.

The toner-image-receiving layer may further comprise other additives for improving its thermodynamic properties. The other additives include, for example, plasticizers, releasing agents, coloring agents, fillers, crosslinking agents, charge control agents, emulsions, and dispersions.

The plasticizers can be any of known plasticizers for resins. The plasticizers serve to control fluidizing or softening of the toner image receiving layer by action of heat and/or pressure when the toner is fixed.

Typical disclosures of the plasticizers can be found in, for example, Kagaku Binran (Chemical Handbook), ed. by The Chemical Society of Japan, Maruzen Co., Ltd. Tokyo; Plasticizer, Theory and Application, edited and written by Koichi Murai and published by Saiwai Shobo; Volumes 1 and 2 of Studies on Plasticizer; edited by Polymer Chemistry Association; and Handbook on Compounding Ingredients for Rubbers and Plastics, edited by Rubber Digest Co.

Examples of the plasticizers include, for example, esters of the following acids; phthalic, phosphoric, fatty acids, abietic, adipic, sebacic, azelaic, benzoic, butyric, epoxidized fatty acids, glycolic, propionic, trimellitic, citric, sulfonic, carboxylic, succinic, maleic, fumaric, and stearic acid; amides including aliphatic amides and sulfonamides, ethers, alcohols, lactones, poly (ethylene oxide)s (refer to JP-A No. 59-83154, No. 59-178451, No. 59-178453, No. 59-178454, No. 59-178455, No. 59-178457, No. 62-174754, No. 62-245253, No. 61-209444, No. 61-200538, No. 62-8145, No. 62-9348, No. 62-30247, No. 62-136646, and No. 2-235694). The plasticizers can be used by mixing with the resins.

Polymer plasticizers having a relatively low molecular weight can also be used herein. The molecular weight of such a plasticizer is preferably lower than that of a resin to be plasticized and is preferably 15000 or less, and more preferably 5000 or less. When these polymer plasticizers are used, those of the same kind with the resin to be plasticized are preferred. For example, low-molecular-weight polyesters are preferably used for plasticizing a polyester resin. In addition, oligomers can be used as the plasticizers. In addition to the aforementioned compounds, the plasticizers are also commercially available under the trade names of, for example, Adekacizer PN-170 and PN-1430 from Asahi Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.; PARAPLEX G-25, G-30 and G40 from C. P. Hall Co.; Ester Gum 8L-JA, Ester R-95, Pentalin 4851, FK 115, 4820 and 830, Luisol 28-JA, Picolastic A75, Picotex LC and Crystalex 3085 from Rika Hercules Co.

The plasticizer can be freely used so as to mitigate stress and/or strain when the toner particles are embedded in the toner-image-receiving layer. Such strain includes, for example, physical strain such as elastic force and viscosity, and strain due to material balance in, for example, molecules, principle chains and/or pendant moieties of the binder.

The plasticizer may be finely dispersed, may undergo micro-phase separation into islands-in-sea structure or may be sufficiently dissolved or miscible with other components such as a binder in the layers.

The content of the plasticizer in the toner-image-receiving layer is preferably from 0.001% by mass to 90% by mass, more preferably from 0.1% by mass to 60% by mass, and further preferably from 1% by mass to 40% by mass.

The plasticizers can be used to control the slipping property leading to the improvement in the transport performance due to friction reduction, improve the anti-offset property during fixing (detachment of toner or layers onto the fixing means) or control the curling property and the charging property for a desirable latent toner image formation.

The releasing agent is incorporated into the toner-image-receiving layer so as to prevent offset of the toner-image-receiving layer. Such releasing agents are not specifically limited and can be appropriately selected, as long as they are melted or fused by heating at an image-fixing temperature, are deposited on the surface of the toner-image-receiving layer and form a layer of the releasing agent on the surface by cooling and solidifying.

The releasing agent can be at least one of silicone compounds, fluorine compounds, waxes, and matting agents. Among them, at least one selected from silicone oils, polyethylene waxes, carnauba waxes, silicone particles, and polyethylene wax particles is preferably used.

As the releasing agents, the compounds mentioned for example in "Properties and Applications of Waxes", Revised Edition, published by Saiwai Shobo, or The Silicon Handbook published by THE NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN, may be used. Further, the silicon compounds, fluorine compounds or waxes used for the toners mentioned in JP-B Nos. 59-38581, 04-32380, Japanese Patents Nos. 2838498, 2949558, JP-A Nos. 50-117433, 52-52640, 57-148755, 61-62056, 61-62057, 61-118760, 02-42451, 03-41465, 04-212175, 04-214570, 04-263267, 05-34966, 05-119514, 06-59502, 06-161150, 06-175396, 06-219040, 06-230600, 06-295093, 07-36210, 07-43940, 07-56387, 07-56390, 07-64335, 07-199681, 07-223362, 07-287413, 08-184992, 08-227180, 08-248671, 08-248799, 08-248801, 08-278663, 09-152739, 09-160278, 09-185181, 09-319139, 09-319143, 10-20549, 10-48889, 10-198069, 10-207116, 11-2917, 11-44969, 11-65156, 11-73049 and 11-194542 can also be used. Moreover, two or more sets of these compounds can be used.

Examples of silicone compounds are non-modified silicone oils (specifically, dimethyl siloxane oil, methyl hydrogen silicone oil, phenyl methyl-silicone oil; or products such as KF-96, KF-96L, KF-96H, KF-99, KF-50, KF-54, KF-56, KF-965, KF-968, KF-994, KF-995 and HIVAC F-4, F-5 from Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.; SH200, SH203, SH490, SH510, SH550, SH710, SH704, SH705, SH7028A, SH7036, SM7060, SM7001, SM7706, SH7036, SH8710, SH1107 and SH8627 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.; and TSF400, TSF401, TSF404, TSF405, TSF431, TSF433, TSF434, TSF437, TSF450 Series, TSF451 series, TSF456, TSF458 Series, TSF483, TSF484, TSF4045, TSF4300, TSF4600, YF33 Series, YF-3057, YF-3800, YF-3802, YF-3804, YF-3807, YF-3897, XF-3905, XS69-A1753, TEX100, TEX101, TEX102, TEX103, TEX104, TSW831, from Toshiba Silicones), amino-modified silicone oils (e.g., KF-857, KF-858, KF-859, KF-861, KF-864 and KF-880 from Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., SF8417 and SM8709 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd., and TSF4700, TSF4701, TSF4702, TSF4703, TSF4704, TSF4705, TSF4706, TEX150, TEX151 and TEX154 from Toshiba Silicones), carboxy-modified silicone oils (e.g., BY16-880 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd., TSF4770 and XF42-A9248 from Toshiba Silicones), carbinol-modified silicone oils (e.g., XF42-B0970 from Toshiba Silicones), vinyl-modified silicone oils (e.g., XF40-A1987 from Toshiba Silicones), epoxy -modified silicone oils (e.g., SF8411 and SF8413 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.; TSF3965, TSF4730, TSF4732, XF42-A4439, XF42-A4438, XF42-A5041, XC96-A4462, XC96-A4463, XC96-A4464 and TEX170 from Toshiba Silicones), polyether-modified silicone oils (e.g., KF-351 (A), KF-352 (A), KF-353 (A), KF-354 (A), KF-355 (A), KF-615(A), KF-618 and KF-945 (A) from Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.; SH3746, SH3771, SF8421, SF8419, SH8400 and SF8410 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.; TSF4440, TSF4441, TSF4445, TSF4446, TSF4450, TSF4452, TSF4453 and TSF4460 from Toshiba Silicones), silanol-modified silicone oils, methacryl-modified silicone oils, mercapto-modified silicone oils, alcohol-modified silicone oils (e.g., SF8427 and SF8428 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd., TSF4750, TSF4751 and XF42-B0970 from Toshiba Silicones), alkyl-modified silicone oils (e.g., SF8416 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd., TSF410, TSF411, TSF4420, TSF4421, TSF4422, TSF4450, XF42-334, XF42-A3160 and XF42-A3161 from Toshiba Silicones), fluorine-modified silicone oils (e.g., FS1265 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd., and FQF501 from Toshiba Silicones), silicone rubbers and silicone particulates (e.g., SH851, SH745U, SH55UA, SE4705U, SH502 UA&B, SRX539U, SE6770 U-P, DY 38-038, DY38-047, Trefil F-201, F-202, F-250, R-900, R-902A, E-500, E-600, E-601, E-506, BY29-119 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.; Tospal 105, 120, 130, 145, 240 and 3120 from Toshiba Silicones), silicone-modified resins (specifically, olefin resins or polyester resins, vinyl resins, polyamide resins, cellulosic resins, phenoxy resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate resins, urethane resins, acrylate resins, styrene-acrylate resins and their copolymerization resins modified by silicone, e.g., Diaroma SP203V, SP712, SP2105 and SP3023 from Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.; Modepa FS700, FS710, FS720, FS730 and FS770 from NOF CORPORATION; Simac US-270, US-350, US-352, US-380, US-413, US-450, Reseda GP-705, GS-30, GF-150 and GF-300 from TOAGOSEI CO,. LTD.; SH997, SR2114, SH2104, SR2115, SR2202, DCI-2577, SR2317, SE4001U, SRX625B, SRX643, SRX439U, SRX488U, SH804, SH840, SR2107 and SR2115 from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd., YR3370, TSR1122, TSR102, TSR108, TSR116, TSR117, TSR125A, TSR127B, TSR144, TSR180, TSR187, YR47, YR3187, YR3224, YR3232, YR3270, YR3286, YR3340, YR3365, TEX152, TEX153, TEX171 and TEX172 from Toshiba Silicones), and reactive silicone compounds (specifically, addition reaction type, peroxide-curing type and ultraviolet radiation curing type, e.g., TSR1500, TSR1510, TSR1511, TSR1515, TSR1520, YR3286, YR3340, PSA6574, TPR6500, TPR6501, TPR6600, TPR6702, TPR6604, TPR6700, TPR6701, TPR6705, TPR6707, TPR6708, TPR6710, TPR6712, TPR6721, TPR6722, UV9300, UV9315, UV9425, UV9430, XS56-A2775, XS56-A2982, XS56-A3075, XS56-A3969, XS56-A5730, XS56-A8012, XS56-B1794, SL6100, SM3000, SM3030, SM3200 and YSR3022 from Toshiba Silicones).

Examples of fluorine compounds are fluorine oils (e.g., Daifluoryl #1, #3, #10, #20, #50, #100, Unidyne TG440, TG-452, TG-490, TG-560, TG-561, TG-590, TG-652, TG-670U, TG-991, TG-999, TG-3010, TG-3020 and TG-3510 from Daikin Industries, Ltd.; MF-100, MF-110, MF-120, MF-130, MF-160 and MF-160E from Torchem Products; S-111, S-112, S-113, S-121, S-131, S-132, S-141 and S-145 from Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.; and, FC-430 and FC-431 from DU PONT-MITSUI FLUOROCHEMICALS COMPANY,LTD), fluororubbers (e.g., LS63U from Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.), fluorine-modified resins (e.g., Modepa F220, F600, F2020, FF203, FF204 and F3035 from Nippon Oils and Fats; Diaroma FF203 and FF204 from Dai Nichi Pure Chemicals; Saflon S-381, S-383, S-393, SC-101, SC-105, KH-40 and SA-100 from Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.; E-351, EF-352, EF-801, EF-802, EF-601, TFEA, TFEMA and PDFOH from Torchem Products; and THV-200P from Sumitomo 3M), fluorine sulfonic acid compound (e.g., EF-101, EF-102, EF-103, EF-104, EF-105, EF-112, EF-121, EF-122A, EF-122B, EF-122C, EF-123A, EF-123B, EF-125M, EF-132, EF-135M, EF-305, FBSA, KFBS and LFBS from Torchem Products), fluorosulfonic acid, and fluorine acid compounds or salts (specifically, anhydrous fluoric acid, dilute fluoric acid, fluoroboric acid, zinc fluoroborate, nickel fluoroborate, tin fluoroborate, lead fluoroborate, copper fluoroborate, fluorosilicic acid, fluorinated potassium titanate, perfluorocaprylic acid and ammonium perfluorooctanoate), inorganic fluorides (specifically, aluminum fluoride, potassium fluoride, fluorinated potassium zirconate, fluorinated zinc tetrahydrate, calcium fluoride, lithium fluoride, barium fluoride, tin fluoride, potassium fluoride, acid potassium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, fluorinated titanic acid, fluorinated zirconic acid, ammonium hexafluorinated phosphoric acid and potassium hexafluorinated phosphoric acid).

The waxes include, but are not limited to, synthetic hydrocarbons, modified waxes, hydrogenated waxes, and naturally occurring waxes.

Examples of synthetic hydrocarbons are polyethylene waxes (e.g., Polylon A, 393 and H481 from Chukyo Oils and Fats, and Sanwax E-310, E-330, E-250P, LEL-250, LEL-800 and LEL400P from Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd. ), polypropylene waxes (e.g., Biscol 330-P, 550-P and 660-P from Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd. ), Fischertrops wax (e.g., FT100 and FT-0070 from Japan wax), and acid amide compounds or acid imide compounds (specifically, stearic acid amides and anhydrous phthalic imides such as Cellosol 920, B495, high micron G-270, G-110 and hydrin D-757 from Chukyo Oils and Fats).

Examples of modified waxes are amine-modified polypropylenes (e.g., QN-7700 from Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.), acrylic acid-modified, fluorine-modified or olefin-modified waxes, urethane waxes (e.g., NPS-6010 and HAD-5090 from Japan Wax), and alcohol waxes (e.g., NPS-9210, NPS-9215, OX-1949 and XO-020T from Japan Wax).

Examples of hydrogenated waxes are castor oil (e.g., castor wax from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd., castor oil derivatives (e.g., dehydrated castor oil DCO, DCO Z-1, DCO Z-3, castor oil fatty acid CO-FA, ricinoleic acid, dehydrated castor oil fatty acid DCO-FA, dehydrated castor oil fatty acid epoxy ester 4 ester, castor oil urethane acrylate CA-10, CA-20, CA-30, castor oil derivative MINERASOL S-74, S-80, S-203, S-42X, S-321, special castor oil condensation fatty acid MINERASOL RC-2, RC-17, RC-55, RC-335, special castor oil condensation fatty acid ester MINERASOL LB-601, LB-603, LB-604, LB-702, LB-703, #11 and L-164 from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.), stearic acid (e.g., 12-hydroxystearic acid from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.), lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, behenic acid, sebacic acid (e.g., sebacic acid from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.), undecylenic acid (e.g., undecylenic acid from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.), heptyl acids (heptyl acids from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.), maleic acid, high grade maleic oils (e.g., HIMALEIN DC-15, LN-10, 00-15, DF-20 and SF-20 from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.), blown oils (e.g., selbonol #10, #30, #60, R-40 and S-7 from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.) and synthetic waxes such as cyclopentadieneic oils (CP oil and CP oil-S from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.).

Preferred examples of the naturally occurring waxes are vegetable waxes, animal waxes, mineral waxes, and petroleum waxes, of which vegetable waxes are typically preferred. When an aqueous thermoplastic resin is used as the thermoplastic resin in the toner-image-receiving layer, water-dispersible waxes are specifically preferred for their higher miscibility with the aqueous thermoplastic resin.

Examples of vegetable waxes are carnauba waxes (e.g., EMUSTAR AR-0413 from Japan Wax, and Cellosol 524 from Chukyo Oils and Fats), castor oil (purified castor oil from Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.), rape oil, soybean oil, Japan tallow, cotton wax, rice wax, sugarcane wax, candelilla wax, Japan wax and jojoba oil. Among them; carnauba waxes having a melting, point of 70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. are preferred, since the resulting image-receiving sheet has excellent anti-offset properties and adhesion resistance, can pass through a machine smoothly, has good glossiness, invites less cracking and can form high-quality images.

The animal waxes include, but are not limited to, beeswaxes, lanolin, spermaceti waxes, whale oils, and wool waxes.

Examples of mineral waxes are natural waxes such as montan wax, montan ester wax, ozokerite and ceresin, or fatty acid esters (Sansosizer-DOA, AN-800, DINA, DIDA, DOZ, DOS, TOTM, TITM, E-PS, nE-PS, E-PO, E4030, E-6000, E-2000H, E-9000H, TCP and C-1100, New Japan Chemical Co., Ltd.). Among them, montan waxes having a melting point of 70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. are preferred, since the resulting image-receiving sheet has excellent anti-offset properties and adhesion resistance, can pass through a machine smoothly, has good glossiness, invites less cracking and can form high-quality images.

Preferred examples of petroleum waxes may for example be a paraffin wax (e.g., Paraffin wax 155, 150, 140, 135, 130, 125, 120, 115, HNP-3, HNP-5, HNP-9, HNP-10, HNP-11, HNP-12, HNP-14G, SP-0160, SP-0145, SP-1040, SP-1035, SP-3040, SP-3035, NPS-8070, NPS-L-70, OX-2151, OX-2251, EMUSTAR-0384 and EMUSTAR-0136 from Japan Wax; Cellosol 686, 428, 651-A, A, H-803, B-460, E-172, 866, K-133, hydrin D-337 and E-139 from Chukyo Oils and Fats; 125 paraffin, 125.degree. FD, 130.degree. paraffin, 135.degree. paraffin, 135.degree. H, 140.degree. paraffin, 14.degree. N, 145.degree. paraffin and paraffin wax M from Nisseki Mitsubishi Petroleum), or a microcrystalline wax (e.g., Hi-Mic-2095, Hi-Mic-3090, Hi-Mic-1080, Hi-Mic-1070, Hi-Mic-2065, Hi-Mic-1045, Hi-Mic-2045, EMUSTAR-0001 and EMUSTAR-042X from Japan Wax; Cellosol 967, M, from Chukyo Oils and Fats; 55 Microwax and 180 Microwax from Nisseki Mitsubishi Petroleum), and petrolatum (e.g., OX-1749, OX-0450, OX-0650B, OX-0153, OX-261BN, OX-0851, OX-0550, OX-0750B, JP-1500, JP-056R and JP-011P from Japan Wax).

The content of the naturally occurring wax in the toner-image-receiving layer (surface layer) is preferably from 0.1 g/m.sup.2 to 4 g/m.sup.2, and more preferably from 0.2 g/m.sup.2 to 2 g/m.sup.2.

If the content is less than 0.1 g/m.sup.2, sufficient anti-offset properties and adhesion resistance may not be obtained. If it exceeds 4 g/m.sup.2, the resulting images may decreased quality due to excessive wax.

To obtain satisfactory anti-offset properties and to allow the sheet to pass through a machine smoothly, the melting point of the naturally occurring wax is preferably from 70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C., and more preferably from 75.degree. C. to 90.degree. C.

The matting agents include various conventional matting agents. Solid particles for use in the matting agents can be classified as inorganic particles (inorganic matting agents) and organic particles (organic matting agents).

Specifically, inorganic matting agents may be oxides (for example, silicon dioxide, titanium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide), alkaline earth metal salts (for example, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, magnesium sulfate), silver halides (for example, silver chloride or silver bromide), and glass.

Examples of inorganic matting agents are given for example in West German Patent No. 2529321, UK Patents Nos. 760775, 1260772, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,201,905, 2,192,241, 3,053,662, 3,062,649, 3,257,206, 3,322,555, 3,353,958, 3,370,951, 3,411,907, 3,437,484, 3,523,022, 3,615,554, 3,635,714, 3,769,020, 4,021,245 and 4,029,504.

The above organic matting agent contains starch, cellulose ester (for example, cellulose-acetate propionate), cellulose ether (for example, ethyl cellulose) and a synthetic resin. It is preferred that the synthetic resin is insoluble or difficultly soluble. Examples of insoluble or difficultly soluble synthetic resins include poly(meth)acrylic esters, e.g., polyalkyl(meth)acrylate and polyalkoxyalkyl(meth)acrylate, polyglycidyl(meth)acrylate), poly(meth) acrylamide, polyvinyl esters (e.g., polyvinyl acetate), polyacrylonitrile, polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene), polystyrene, benzoguanamine resin, formaldehyde condensation polymer, epoxy resins, polyamides, polycarbonates, phenolic resins, polyvinyl carbazole and polyvinylidene chloride. Copolymers which combine the monomers used in the above polymers, may also be used.

In the case of the above copolymers, a small amount of hydrophilic repeating units may be included. Examples of monomers which form a hydrophilic repeating unit are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate, sulfoalkyl (meth)acrylate and styrene sulfonic acid.

Examples of organic matting agents are for example given in UK Patent No. 1055713, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,939,213, 2,221,873, 2,268,662, 2,322,037, 2,376,005, 2,391,181, 2,701,245, 2,992,101, 3,079,257, 3,262,782, 3,443,946, 3,516,832, 3,539,344, 3,591,379, 3,754,924 and 3,767,448, and JP-A Nos. 49-106821, 57-14835.

Also, two or more types of solid particles may be used in conjunction as matting agents. The average particle size of the solid particles may conveniently be, for example, 1 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m, but is preferably 4 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m. The usage amount of the solid particles may conveniently be 0.01 g/m.sup.2 to 0.5 g/m.sup.2, but is preferably 0.02 g/m.sup.2 to 0.3 g/m.sup.2.

The releasing agents for use in the toner-image-receiving layer can also be derivatives, oxides, purified products, and mixtures of the aforementioned substances. These releasing agents may each have a reactive substituent.

To obtain satisfactory anti-offset properties and to allow the sheet to pass through a machine smoothly, the melting point of the releasing agent is preferably from 70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C., and more preferably from 75.degree. C. to 90.degree. C.

When an aqueous thermoplastic resin is used as the thermoplastic resin in the toner-image-receiving layer, water-dispersible releasing agents are specifically preferred for higher miscibility with the aqueous thermoplastic resin.

The content of the releasing agent in the toner-image-receiving layer is preferably from 0.1% by mass to 10% by mass, more preferably from 0.3% by mass to 8.0% by mass, and further preferably from 0.5% by mass to 5.0% by mass.

Examples of colorants are optical whitening agents, white pigments, colored pigments and dyes.

The above optical whitening agent has absorption in the near-ultraviolet region, and is a compound which emits fluorescence at from 400 nm to 500 nm. The various optical whitening agents known in the art may be used without any particular limitation. As this optical whitening agent, the compounds described in "The Chemistry of Synthetic Dyes" Volume V, Chapter 8 edited by KVeenRataraman can conveniently be mentioned. Specific examples are stilbene compounds, coumarin compounds, biphenyl compounds, benzo-oxazoline compounds, naphthalimide compounds, pyrazoline compounds and carbostyryl compounds. Examples of these are white furfar-PSN, PHR, HCS, PCS, B from Sumitomo Chemicals, and UVITEX-OB from Ciba-Geigy.

Examples of white pigments are the