A toner is provided. The toner comprises a maleic-acid-modified polyolefin having a polypropylene block in a main chain and having a weight average molecular weight of 60,000 or more.

The electrostatic printing method of the present invention comprises arranging and adhering an original plate which is composed of an electrode and a plate layer having built-in a letterpress, intaglio plate, or gravure plate pattern or a mask sheet having ion-permeable openings on one or both sides of an image receiving sheet having an electrode and an image receiving layer, and forming a predetermined electrostatic pattern on the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet by applying a voltage between the electrode of the original plate and the electrode of the image receiving sheet or by performing ion irradiation through the mask sheet.

An image formation device includes a transfer member and a first portion to receive an electrically charged, image-receiving holder onto the transfer member. A second portion downstream from the first portion is to receive droplets of ink particles within a dielectric carrier fluid onto the electrically charged, image-receiving holder to form at least part of an image. A charge source is to emit airborne charges to charge the ink particles to move, via attraction relative to the image-receiving holder, through the carrier fluid to become electrostatically fixed relative to the image-receiving holder. A liquid removal unit is to remove at least the carrier fluid from at least a surface of the image-receiving holder. A transfer station is to transfer the ink particles of the image and the image-receiving holder together from the transfer member to an image formation medium.

A device includes an at least partially electrically conductive transfer member to travel along a travel path and a first portion along the travel path to receive an image-receiving holder onto the transfer member. A second portion is downstream from the first portion along the travel path to receive ink particles onto the image-receiving holder to form an image, while a transfer station is to transfer the ink particles and the image-receiving holder together from the transfer member to an image formation medium. A discharge element, which is interposed between the transfer station and the first portion, is to cause discharge of the transfer member.

An image formation device includes a transfer member and a first portion to receive an electrically charged, image-receiving holder onto the transfer member. A second portion downstream from the first portion is to receive droplets of ink particles within a dielectric carrier fluid onto the electrically charged, image-receiving holder to form at least part of an image. A charge source is to emit airborne charges to charge the ink particles to move, via attraction relative to the image-receiving holder, through the carrier fluid to become electrostatically fixed relative to the image-receiving holder. A liquid removal unit is to remove at least the carrier fluid from at least a surface of the image-receiving holder. A transfer station is to transfer the ink particles of the image and the image-receiving holder together from the transfer member to an image formation medium.

An image forming apparatus includes a developing section, storage, a first calculation section, a comparing section, and an executing section. The developing section develops an electrostatic latent image with toner. The storage stores coverage rates. The first calculation section calculates a first coverage rate and a second coverage rate. The comparing section compares the first coverage rate with the second coverage rate. The first coverage rate includes one or more coverage rates stored earlier in the storage than the second coverage rate. The second coverage rate includes coverage rates of a specified number of latest images individually formed on a specified number of sheets. A running-in operation is driving the developing section. The executing section executes the running-in operation.

A toner is provided. The toner comprises a maleic-acid-modified polyolefin having a polypropylene block in a main chain and having a weight average molecular weight of 60,000 or more.

An image forming apparatus includes a developing section, storage, a first calculation section, a comparing section, and an executing section. The developing section develops an electrostatic latent image with toner. The storage stores coverage rates. The first calculation section calculates a first coverage rate and a second coverage rate. The comparing section compares the first coverage rate with the second coverage rate. The first coverage rate includes one or more coverage rates stored earlier in the storage than the second coverage rate. The second coverage rate includes coverage rates of a specified number of latest images individually formed on the specified number of sheets. The running-in operation is driving the developing section. The executing section executes the running-in operation.

An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor unit that supports a photoconductor drum, a transfer roller brought into pressure contact with the photoconductor drum, a transfer unit that supports the transfer roller, a sheet guide provided between the photoconductor unit and the fixing unit, and a support holder that supports the transfer unit and the sheet guide. The support holder moves to bring the transfer unit and the sheet guide into and out of contact with the photoconductor unit and the fixing unit. The transfer unit is provided with a transfer positioning section that positions the transfer unit by coming into abutment therewith. The sheet guide is provided with a guide positioning section that positions the sheet guide by coming into abutment therewith. The transfer unit and the sheet guide are joined to each other by an engagement unit that engages the two with each other.

An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor unit that supports a photoconductor drum, a transfer roller brought into pressure contact with the photoconductor drum, a transfer unit that supports the transfer roller, a sheet guide provided between the photoconductor unit and the fixing unit, and a support holder that supports the transfer unit and the sheet guide. The support holder moves to bring the transfer unit and the sheet guide into and out of contact with the photoconductor unit and the fixing unit. The transfer unit is provided with a transfer positioning section that positions the transfer unit by coming into abutment therewith. The sheet guide is provided with a guide positioning section that positions the sheet guide by coming into abutment therewith. The transfer unit and the sheet guide are joined to each other by an engagement unit that engages the two with each other.