A toner having high mechanical strength and being capable of exhibiting a
sufficient fixing property in a wide temperature range, and a method for
manufacturing such a toner are provided. Further, a fixing device and an
image forming apparatus in which such a toner can be suitably used are
also provided. The method for manufacturing a toner comprises a step of
spreading a dispersion liquid, in which a dispersoid containing
polyester-based resin is dispersed in a dispersion medium, into a laminar
flow by pressing it against a smooth surface using a gas flow and then
jetting the dispersion liquid in the form of fine particles and a step of
solidifying the fine particles of the dispersion liquid while they are
being conveyed in a solidifying section. 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
condensation of a diol component with a dicarboxylic acid component, and
an amorphous block having crystallinity lower than that of the
crystalline block.