US Patent 7105261 Toner, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

A toner having high mechanical strength and being capable of exhibiting a sufficient fixing property in a wide temperature range is provided. Further, a fixing device and an image forming apparatus in which such a toner can be suitably used are also provided. The toner contains polyester-based resin as a main resin component. The polyester-based resin includes block polyester mainly composed of a block copolymer, and amorphous polyester having crystallinity lower than that of the block polyester. The block polyester has a crystalline block obtained by the condensation of a diol component with a dicarboxylic acid component, and an amorphous block having crystallinity lower than that of the crystalline block. The compounding ratio between the block polyester and the amorphous polyester is in the range of 5:95 to 45:55 in weight ratio.