Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an application device. The application device has an application roller to apply a treatment liquid onto a recording medium before an image is formed on the recording medium. The application roller has a core member serving as a rotation shaft of the application roller and an elastic surface member disposed around the core member. The core member has a plurality of convex ring portions formed along a circumferential direction of the core member around a circumferential surface of the core member and a plurality of concave ring portions formed between the plurality of convex ring portions. The convex ring portions and the concave ring portions are alternately arranged.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object fabrication method and apparatus to fabricate a three-dimensional object from a foamed material are provided. The method includes applying a solvent to dissolve the foamed material; dissolving and contracting the foamed material; and molding a three-dimensional object. The solvent is applied to a surface of the foamed material, thereby dissolving and contracting of the foamed material in a depth direction, or otherwise, the solvent is applied to an interior portion of the foamed material, thereby releasing air contained inside the foamed material and starting contraction of the foamed material itself. The method further includes adjusting an amount of the solvent depending on a thickness of the three-dimensional object, filling in a recess or a concavity formed in the foamed material with a molding material; solidifying the molding material as a mold; and transferring a shape of the recess or the concavity to the molding material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device forming an image on a surface of a recording material; a recording material passage; a treatment liquid applicator including a tray containing a treatment liquid, a first roller applying the treatment liquid to the surface of the recording material, and a second roller drawing the treatment liquid from the tray to supply the treatment liquid to the first roller; a liquid level inclination detector detecting whether the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined; a treatment liquid supplying device supplying the treatment liquid to the tray; and a controller connected with liquid level detector and the treatment liquid supplying device. The controller stops the operation of the treatment liquid supplying device when determining according to the detection result of the liquid level detector that the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined in a predetermined amount or more.

Abstract: A treatment-liquid application device includes a treatment-liquid container, a liquid supply unit, a liquid chamber unit, a treatment-liquid carrier, a transport unit, a treatment-liquid applicator, and a partition. The partition is disposed in an area of the chamber unit defined by an imaginary entry plane, an imaginary exit plane, a carrying surface of the carrier, and a bottom face of the chamber unit. The entry plane includes an entry line at which the carrying surface enters treatment liquid in the chamber unit, and vertically extends from the entry line. The exit plane includes an exit line at which the carrying surface exits from the liquid in the chamber unit, and vertically extends from the exit line. The partition extends in a longitudinal direction of the carrier and has an edge portion adjacent to the carrying surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a liquid jetting head for jetting liquid onto a recording medium and a movement mechanism for moving the liquid jetting head orthogonal to the recording medium. The movement mechanism includes translation cams movable in a direction orthogonal to the movement of the liquid jetting head, each of the translation cams including a cam gap into which a protruding part of the liquid jetting head is inserted. Each cam gap includes a parallel part and a slope part. The cap gaps of the translation cams are configured so as to constantly maintain a relationship in which when the protruding part is positioned in the slope part of the cap gap of one of the translation cams, the protruding part is positioned in the parallel part of the cap gap of the other translation cam.

Abstract: A treatment-liquid application device includes a treatment-liquid container, a liquid supply unit, a liquid chamber unit, a treatment-liquid carrier, a transport unit, a treatment-liquid applicator, and a partition. The partition is disposed in an area of the chamber unit defined by an imaginary entry plane, an imaginary exit plane, a carrying surface of the carrier, and a bottom face of the chamber unit. The entry plane includes an entry line at which the carrying surface enters treatment liquid in the chamber unit, and vertically extends from the entry line. The exit plane includes an exit line at which the carrying surface exits from the liquid in the chamber unit, and vertically extends from the exit line. The partition extends in a longitudinal direction of the carrier and has an edge portion adjacent to the carrying surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device forming an image on a surface of a recording material; a recording material passage; a treatment liquid applicator including a tray containing a treatment liquid, a first roller applying the treatment liquid to the surface of the recording material, and a second roller drawing the treatment liquid from the tray to supply the treatment liquid to the first roller; a liquid level inclination detector detecting whether the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined; a treatment liquid supplying device supplying the treatment liquid to the tray; and a controller connected with liquid level detector and the treatment liquid supplying device. The controller stops the operation of the treatment liquid supplying device when determining according to the detection result of the liquid level detector that the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined in a predetermined amount or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an application device. The application device has an application roller to apply a treatment liquid onto a recording medium before an image is formed on the recording medium. The application roller has a core member serving as a rotation shaft of the application roller and an elastic surface member disposed around the core member. The core member has a plurality of convex ring portions formed along a circumferential direction of the core member around a circumferential surface of the core member and a plurality of concave ring portions formed between the plurality of convex ring portions. The convex ring portions and the concave ring portions are alternately arranged.

Abstract: A mold surface (6) of an upper mold (1) with which a fluid resin comes into contact has an oxide (3) therein. The oxide (3) contains a metal cation and an ion. Field strength is calculated based on a valence of the metal cation and an ionic radius of the ion. Based on predetermined relationship established between a value of the field strength and adhesion strength between a cured resin and the mold surface (6), releasability between the cured resin and the mold surface (6) is evaluated. Thereby, a method of evaluating releasability between the cured resin and the mold surface (6) is established. With this evaluation method, a material with high releasability (3) can readily be provided. Further, if the material with high releasability (3) is used for the mold surface (6) of the upper mold (1), a mold for molding a resin having excellent releasability can be obtained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium and a treatment-liquid application device to apply a treatment liquid to the medium. The application device includes a conveyance roller to convey the medium, an application roller to apply the liquid to the medium, a squeeze roller to spread the liquid on the application roller to form a thin layer of the liquid on the application roller, and a housing member to retain the application roller and the squeeze roller within the housing member and cover outer circumferential surfaces of the application roller and the squeeze roller. The housing member has an opening to contact the application roller with the conveyance roller through the opening and a storage portion to store the liquid. The housing member is rotatable while retaining the application roller and the conveyance roller within the housing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a treatment-liquid application unit applying a treatment liquid from a chamber to a recording medium; a treatment-liquid storage unit to store the liquid; a supply channel member forming a supply channel to supply the liquid from the treatment-liquid storage unit to the chamber; a collection channel member forming a collection channel to collect the liquid from the chamber; and a temporary storage portion disposed in the collection channel to temporarily store the liquid. The temporary storage portion has an internal horizontal cross-sectional area greater than a channel cross-sectional area of the collection channel. The collection channel member has a first channel portion of a channel cross-sectional area smaller than the internal horizontal cross-sectional area of the temporary storage portion. A liquid level of the liquid in the collection channel is maintained in the first channel portion after termination of collecting operation.

Abstract: A powder conveyance unit, providable to an image forming apparatus, includes a path forming member configured to form a powder conveyance path including an inner wall to convey powder therethrough and connect first and second powder containers, and a substantially planar plate-like powder remover configured to remove powder adhering to the inner wall of the powder conveyance path. The plate-like powder remover is disposed in the powder conveyance path with both lateral edges thereof in a width direction perpendicular to a powder conveyance direction in the powder conveyance path contacting or nearly contacting the inner wall of the powder conveyance path. Opposed flat surfaces of the plate-like powder remover moves reciprocally between opposed surfaces of the inner wall of the powder conveyance path to remove powder adhering to the surfaces of the inner wall of the powder conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a medium; and an application device for applying a treatment liquid to the medium. The application device includes a conveying roller; an application roller for applying the liquid; a squeeze roller for reducing the thickness of the liquid on the application roller; and a tray for supplying the liquid to the squeeze roller. In the application operation, the application and squeeze rollers come in contact, and a valley formed by these rollers faces upward. In the standby condition, at least one of the application and squeeze rollers is moved to such a position that the valley faces laterally. The tray always covers the lower side of the application and squeeze rollers in regions near the longitudinal end portions of the application roller, which end portions do not come in contact with the conveying roller.

Abstract: An upper die has a cavity member constituting an inner bottom surface of a cavity, and a surrounding member. The cavity member is formed of a low adhesion material in accordance with the present invention, and includes a body portion and a surface layer formed on an undersurface of the body portion exposed to a fluid resin. The body portion is formed of a first material of 3YSZ and a second material of ZrN that are mixed at a predetermined ratio. The surface layer is formed of Y2O3 having a low adhesion property with respect to a set resin, and has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the body portion. By bonding the body portion and the surface layer at a high temperature and then cooling them down, compressive residual stress is caused in the surface layer due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficients thereof, and the compressive residual stress is present in the surface layer.

Abstract: A mold surface (6) of an upper mold (1) with which a fluid resin comes into contact has an oxide (3) therein. The oxide (3) contains a metal cation and an ion. Field strength is calculated based on a valence of the metal cation and an ionic radius of the ion. Based on predetermined relationship established between a value of the field strength and adhesion strength between a cured resin and the mold surface (6), releasability between the cured resin and the mold surface (6) is evaluated. Thereby, a method of evaluating releasability between the cured resin and the mold surface (6) is established. With this evaluation method, a material with high releasability (3) can readily be provided. Further, if the material with high releasability (3) is used for the mold surface (6) of the upper mold (1), a mold for molding a resin having excellent releasability can be obtained.

Abstract: A toner bottle unit detachable to an image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing device for making an opening of a toner bottle by removing a cap from the opening and closing the opening by attaching the cap. An opening/closing operation device is provided to swing from an open position, in which the opening/closing device makes the opening, to close position, in which the opening/closing device closes the opening. The opening/closing device is operated to make the opening in conjunction with swinging movement of the opening/closing operation device from the close position to the open position, and closes the opening in conjunction with the swinging movement of the opening/closing operation device from the open position to the close position. The opening/closing operation device is swung between the open and close positions substantially around the central axis.

Abstract: A low-adhesion material containing a rare-earth element is formed as a layer or a film on a mold surface of a mold for molding a resin. A main component of the low-adhesion material is a rare-earth compound, and Y2O3 is used as an example. A content of the rare-earth compound in the low-adhesion material is not less than 40 percent by volume. Thereby, a mold for molding a resin having excellent releasability can be obtained.

Abstract: A packing tool for packing large articles such as image forming apparatuses has a pallet to place the article, and an article-fixing member to secure the article to the pallet. The article-fixing member is accommodated in an accommodating section in the pallet. When securing the article to the pallet, the article-fixing member is pulled out and wound around the article.

Abstract: A conductive porous material includes a matrix having a sintered compact of an oxide, a communicating opening formed in the matrix, having a small diameter and being permeable to gas and impermeable to substance other than gas, and a conductive layer provided on an internal wall of the communicating opening and receiving a current to generate heat. As conductive material is used, an organic substance adheres on the internal wall of communicating opening. To address this, conductive layer is caused to generate heat to decompose and thus remove the organic substance and thus prevent the communicating opening from clogging.

Abstract: A mold surface (6) of an upper mold (1) with which a fluid resin comes into contact has an oxide (3) therein. The oxide (3) contains a metal cation and an ion. Field strength is calculated based on a valence of the metal cation and an ionic radius of the ion. Based on predetermined relationship established between a value of the field strength and adhesion strength between a cured resin and the mold surface (6), releasability between the cured resin and the mold surface (6) is evaluated. Thereby, a method of evaluating releasability between the cured resin and the mold surface (6) is established. With this evaluation method, a material with high releasability (3) can readily be provided. Further, if the material with high releasability (3) is used for the mold surface (6) of the upper mold (1), a mold for molding a resin having excellent releasability can be obtained.