1-6. (canceled)
7. An image-forming method comprising the steps of:
providing an image-forming apparatus having a cleaning means with a cleaning blade to remove a residual toner remaining on a surface of a photoconductive member after transfer;
supplying a toner to the image-forming apparatus,
which toner comprises
a colored polymer particle having an average circle degree in the range of 0.95-0.995 and a volume average particle diameter in the range of 3-8 \u03bcm and
an external additive,
wherein the toner has an absolute value of charge amount in the range of 20-70 \u03bcCg in a toner layer formed on a developing roll when the toner is used with the image-forming apparatus; and
forming an image by the toner and the image-forming apparatus.
8. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning blade has a hardness (JIS-A) in the range of 60-90.
9. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning blade has a rebound resilience in the range of 30-70%.
10. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the angle between the surface of the photoconductive member and the axis of the cleaning blade at the cross point of the photoconductive member and the cleaning blade is in the range of 20-30\xb0.
11. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the colored polymer particle further comprises a parting agent.
12. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the colored polymer particle has a core-shell structure.
13. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the average number of particles of the external additive, having a particle diameter in the range of 0.1-3.0 \u03bcm, on the surface of the colored polymer particle, is in the range of 3-500 particles per single colored polymer particle.
14. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the colored polymer particle has such a particle diameter distribution that particles with diameter not larger than 4 \u03bcm is in the portion of 3-70 number percent.
15. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the colored polymer particle further comprises a charge control resin with a weight average molecular weight in the range of 2,000-50,000.
16. The image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the step of forming the image further comprises:
a step of electrifying the surface of the photoconductive member with an electrifying roll;
a step of light irradiation for forming an electrostatic invisible image by means of a light irradiation device;
a developing step, where the toner is attached to the electrostatic invisible image to form a toner image by means of a developing device;
a step of transferring the toner image formed on the photoconductive member onto a transferring material by means of a transfer roll; and
a cleaning step for removing a residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductive member after transfer, with the cleaning blade.
17-19. (canceled)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I claim:
1. A U-shaped tool for handling a tire chain and installing the tire chain on a tire mounted on a rim of a stationary vehicle wheel which does not rotate during the installation, the tire chain including a side chain having at its opposite ends fastening elements consisting of a fastening hook and a mating fastening element, each of the side chain fastening elements defining an interior space, and the tire having a tread joining an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall, which tool is easily connectable to and removable from the tire chain and comprises
(a) a transverse handle;
(b) two spaced arms extending away from the handle and having a longitudinal axis; and
(c) a clasp mechanism on at least one of the arms for engaging and connecting to a side chain fastening element, the clasp mechanism being non-rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the arm and comprising separate non-resilient coacting members which are easily and repeatedly movable, relative to each other, into and out of alternative configurations including a closed, confining configuration and an open, releasing configuration, the coacting members in combination comprising
(i) a passage which receives a portion of the fastening element; and
(ii) a projection immediately adjacent the passage on the side of the passage away from the handle, which projection, in the closed configuration, penetrates into and occupies interior space within the fastening element disposed in the passage, and, in the open configuration, allows movement of the fastening element out of the passage and past the projection without substantial movement of the fastening element toward the handle;
whereby, when the clasp mechanism is connected to the fastening element with the coacting members in their closed configuration and the fastening element in the passage, the user by grasping the handle is able to pick up the tool and pull up on the tire chain with an unsupported portion of the tire chain suspended from the tool, to draw the tire chain circumferentially around the tire with the tire chain trailing the tool and sliding over the surface of the tire, and to tension the side chain with the tool loosely straddling the tire and with the arm and the side chain slideable on the sidewall, all without twisting the side chain, while the clasp mechanism positively and securely confines the fastening element in the passage and remains connected to the fastening element, notwithstanding forces pulling the clasp mechanism in a direction toward the trailing side chain and away from the handle; and
whereby, when the coacting members are moved from their closed configuration to their open configuration, the fastening element is immediately, positively, cleanly, and completely released from the clasp mechanism.
2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein in the closed configuration the clasp mechanism confines the side chain fastening element in such a manner that the clasp mechanism remains connected to the fastening element during storage, handling, and installation of the tire chain, irrespective of the relative positions of the fastening element and the clasp mechanism and irrespective of the directions of forces pulling on them.
3. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the coacting members are connected at a pivot.
4. A tool according to claim 3 wherein the coacting members are two opposed claw members.
5. A tool according to claim 1 wherein, in the closed configuration, the projection occupies only a minor portion of the interior space within the side chain fastening element, so that the clasp mechanism restrains the fastening element and holds it in an exposed position, thereby enabling the mating fastening element at the other end of the side chain to be connected to the restrained fastening element while the clasp mechanism is still connected to the restrained fastening element.
6. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the arm has, on its side opposite the handle, a longitudinal guide for guiding the mating fastening element into contact with the restrained fastening element.
7. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the arm has, on its side opposite the handle, two parallel longitudinal flanges which define a channel for guiding the mating fastening element into contact with the restrained fastening element.
8. A tool according to claim 1 wherein each arm has a said clasp mechanism.
9. A tool according to claim 1 which further comprises a user-actuated latch which when latched locks the coacting members in the closed configuration and when unlatched allows the coacting members to move to the open configuration.
10. A tool according to claim 9 wherein the latch, when in the latched position, lies closely against the arm and, when in the unlatched position, extends away from the arm.
11. A tool according to claim 9 wherein each arm has a said clasp mechanism and a said latch.
12. A tool according to claim 11 wherein the handle is articulated to permit the two arms to be moved into contact with each other so that the user may initially keep the side chains as well as the cross chains on the tread of the tire when drawing the tire chain circumferentially around the tire.
13. A tool according to claim 11 wherein the handle is in the range of 7.75 to 10.25 inches long and each arm is in the range of 4 to 6 inches long, so that the tool is sized for installing a tire chain on an automobile tire, and wherein the handle is rigidly connected to the arms at angles between 45 and 90, so that the fixed angle prevents the handle from rotating about its own longitudinal axis and thereby twisting the side chains.
14. A tool for handling a tire chain and installing the tire chain on a tire mounted on a rim of a stationary vehicle wheel which does not rotate during the installation, by drawing the tool circumferentially around the tire, with the tire chain connected to the tool, trailing the tool, and sliding over the surface of the tire, the tire chain including a side chain having at its opposite ends fastening elements consisting of a fastening hook and a mating fastening element, which tool is easily connectable to and removable from the tire chain and comprises
(a) a transverse member;
(b) two spaced arms extending away from the transverse member; and
(c) a clasp mechanism on at least one of the arms for engaging and connecting to a fastening element of the side chain; and
(d) a channel on the side of that arm opposite the transverse member for guiding the mating fastening element at the other end of the side chain into contact with the side chain fastening element connected to the clasp mechanism.
15. A tool according to claim 14 which is generally U-shaped, with the transverse member comprising a handle the user grasps for pulling up on the tire chain and drawing the tire chain circumferentially around the tire.
16. A tool according to claim 14 wherein the fastening element connected to the clasp mechanism is restrained, and held in an exposed position, by the clasp mechanism.
17. A tool according to claim 14 wherein in the closed configuration the clasp mechanism confines the side chain fastening element in such a manner that the clasp mechanism remains connected to the fastening element during storage, handling, and installation of the tire chain, irrespective of the relative positions of the fastening element and the clasp mechanism and irrespective of the directions of forces pulling on them.
18. A tool according to claim 14 wherein each arm has a said clasp mechanism.
19. A tool for handling a tire chain and installing the tire chain on a tire mounted on a rim of a stationary vehicle wheel which does not rotate during the installation, by drawing the tool circumferentially around the tire, with the tire chain connected to the tool, trailing the tool, and sliding over the surface of the tire, the tire chain including a side chain having at its opposite ends fastening elements consisting of a fastening hook and a mating fastening element, which tool is easily connectable to and removable from the tire chain and comprises
(a) a transverse member;
(b) two spaced arms extending away from the transverse member; and
(c) a clasp mechanism on at least one of the arms for engaging and connecting to a fastening element of the side chain, the clasp mechanism comprising two coacting members which are movable, relative to each other, into and out of alternative configurations including a closed configuration and an open configuration; and
(d) an actuating surface remote from the clasp mechanism which, when actuated by the user, causes the coacting members to move from their closed configuration to their open configuration.
20. A tool according to claim 19 wherein the actuating surface is closer to the transverse member than to the clasp mechanism.
21. A tool according to claim 19 wherein each arm has a said clasp mechanism and a said actuating surface.
22. A tool according to claim 19 wherein the arm with the clasp mechanism has, on its side opposite the transverse member, a longitudinal guide for guiding the mating fastening element into contact with the tire chain fastening element being held by the clasp mechanism.
23. A tool according to claim 19 which is generally U-shaped, with the transverse member comprising a handle the user grasps for pulling up on the tire chain and drawing the tire chain circumferentially around the tire.
24. A tool according to claim 19 wherein in the closed configuration the clasp mechanism confines the side chain fastening element in such a manner that the clasp mechanism remains connected to the fastening element during storage, handling, and installation of the tire chain, irrespective of the relative positions of the fastening element and the clasp mechanism and irrespective of the directions of forces pulling on them.
25. A tool according to claim 19 wherein each arm has a said clasp mechanism.