Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus including developing unit to develop electrostatic latent image with toner to form visible image, and cleaning unit including elastic member including surface layer and configured to remove the toner, wherein Martens hardness A and Martens hardness B of the surface layer measured by applying load of 1 μN and load of 1,000 μN, respectively, to position of the surface layer in thickness direction thereof using nanoindenter are both 2.5 N/mm2 or greater but 32.5 N/mm2 or less, and Martens hardness A and Martens hardness B satisfy inequality, Martens hardness A>Martens hardness B wherein coefficient of dynamic friction of the surface layer against polycarbonate is 0.5 or less, and the toner includes polyester resin insoluble to THF and Tg of THF-insoluble component of the toner determined from DSC curve of first heating of DSC is −60° C. or higher but 20° C. or lower. 
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
G G G G G G G G G G G
G03G G03G G03G G03G G03G G03G G03G G03G G03G G03G G03G
inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional
Shinya Keiichiro Hiroshi Yuka
Nakayama Juri Yamada Aoyama