A composite core of a toner particle is a composite of a toner core containing a polyester resin and a plurality of resin particles each containing a first resin. A shell layer partially covering a surface of the composite core is a film containing a second resin. The first resin has a glass transition point that is 10 C. or more higher than a glass transition point of the second resin. The plurality of resin particles each have a particle diameter that is 1.5 times or more greater than a thickness of the shell layer. An amount of the resin particles is at least 0.3 parts by mass and no greater than 2.0 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the toner cores. The resin particles have a positive zeta potential at pH 4.

Disclosed is a method for producing a toner comprising combining a binder resin, a wax, a negatively-chargeable charge control resin and a colorant to form the toner, prior to said combining, the negatively-chargeable charge control resin is obtained by drying treatment conducted for 2 to 24 hours under conditions of a drying temperature of 45 to 80 C. and a pressure of 0.5 to 20 kPa, wherein the negatively-chargeable charge control resin comprises a monomer unit having a functional group that imparts a negative charging property, a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer unit, and a (meth)acrylate monomer unit.

Toner particles each include a toner core, a shell layer covering a surface of the toner core, and a plurality of wax particles. The toner core contains a binder resin and does not contain a wax. The wax particles are each located on a surface of the shell layer. The toner core and each of the wax particles are bonded together through covalent bonds within the shell layer. The covalent bonds include a first amide bond and a second amide bond. The shell layer contains a vinyl resin. The vinyl resin includes a constitutional unit (1-1), a constitutional unit (1-2), and a constitutional unit (1-3). An amide bond included in the constitutional unit (1-1) is the first amide bond. An amide bond included in the constitutional unit (1-2) is the second amide bond. ##STR00001##

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion including a developer storage portion, a fixing apparatus, a detection portion configured to output a detection signal in accordance with a developer amount in the developer storage portion, and a control portion configured to control a target temperature of the fixing apparatus. The control portion is configured to set the target temperature at a first temperature if the developer amount is a first amount, set the target temperature at a second temperature lower than the first temperature if the developer amount is a second amount smaller than the first amount, and set the target temperature at a third temperature higher than the second temperature if the developer storage portion is supplied with the developer such that the developer amount is increased from the second amount to the first amount.

An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles each including a core and a shell layer. The shell layer is a collection of resin particles having the same composition (primary particle diameter of at least 90% by number of the resin particles: 20 nm-30 nm). The shell layer includes a first shell layer, which is a film including the resin particles in a non-aggregated state, and a second shell layer, which is a plurality of particle aggregates (secondary particle diameter of at least 90% by number of the particle aggregates: 100 nm-150 nm). The particle aggregates each include the resin particles in an aggregated state. The surface of the core is entirely covered with the shell layer. The second shell layer is present in a surface of the toner particle in a proportion of at least 5% by area and no greater than 15% by area.

Toner particles each include a toner core, a shell layer covering a surface of the toner core, and a plurality of wax particles. The toner core contains a binder resin and does not contain a wax. The wax particles are each located on a surface of the shell layer. The toner core and each of the wax particles are bonded together through covalent bonds within the shell layer. The covalent bonds include a first amide bond and a second amide bond. The shell layer contains a vinyl resin. The vinyl resin includes a constitutional unit (1-1), a constitutional unit (1-2), and a constitutional unit (1-3). An amide bond included in the constitutional unit (1-1) is the first amide bond. An amide bond included in the constitutional unit (1-2) is the second amide bond.

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An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes a toner matrix particle having a core-shell structure. The toner matrix particle contains: a core particle including an amorphous resin, a colorant, a release agent, and a crystalline resin; and a shell layer coating a surface of the core particle at a coverage of 60 to 99%. The shell layer includes an amorphous resin. The amorphous resin contained in the core particle differs from the amorphous resin contained in the shell layer. The toner matrix particle has one to seven discrete shell domains determined by observation of a cross section of the toner matrix particle with an electron microscope.

An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles each including a toner core and a shell layer disposed over a surface of the toner core. The shell layer includes a plurality of first domains (R1) and a second domain (R2) that is present at least among the first domains (R1). The first domains (R1) are each substantially formed from a first thermoplastic resin. The second domain (R2) is substantially formed from a second thermoplastic resin. The second thermoplastic resin is more hydrophobic than the first thermoplastic resin. The first thermoplastic resin includes at least one specific repeating unit having at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an amino group, and an amide group. A proportion of the at least one repeating unit among all repeating units included in the first thermoplastic resin is at least 0.5 mol % and no greater than 50 mol %.

An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles each including a toner core and a shell layer. The shell layer includes first and second domains. The first domain includes a first copolymer of a first main monomer having a mole fraction of at least 20 mol % and one or more first additional monomers each having a mole fraction of less than 20 mol %. The second domain includes a second copolymer of a second main monomer having a mole fraction of at least 20 mol % and one or more second additional monomers each having a mole fraction of less than 20 mol %. A difference in polymer SP value between the first and second main monomers is at least 0.5 and no greater than 5.0. The first and second additional monomers each include one or more common monomers having a homopolymerization glass transition point of no greater than 20 C.

An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles each including a toner core (11) and a shell layer (12) disposed over a surface of the toner core (11). The toner core (11) contains a polyester resin. The shell layer (12) includes: first resin particles (12a) having a number average primary particle diameter of at least 30 nm and less than 70 nm and a glass transition point of less than 80 C.; and second resin particles (12b) having a number average primary particle diameter of 70-200 nm and a glass transition point of at least 80 C. A percentage of an area of the toner core (11) covered with the first resin particles (12a) relative to a surface area of the toner core (11) is 40-80%. A ratio of total mass of the second resin particles (12b) to total mass of the first resin particles (12a) is 0.5-2.0.