Abstract: A developing system comprises: a plurality of image carriers; a plurality of developing devices for developing electrostatic latent images, formed on the plurality of image carriers, with respective liquid developers of different colors of which carrier is nonvolatile solvent; and developer collecting means which are disposed at a plurality of locations for collecting excess developers, wherein the developing devices have developer containers, respectively. The developing system further comprises a carrier storing tank for distributing the carrier to the respective developer containers.

Abstract: The invention provides a printed circuit board (PCB) printing system. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a liquid electrophotographic printing device. At least one supplier of electrically conductive ink supplying electrically conductive ink to the electrophotographic printing device is also provided. In addition, at least one supplier of dielectric ink supplying dielectric ink to the electrophotographic printing device is also provided. The liquid electrophotographic printing device is operable to apply the electrically conductive ink and the dielectric ink to a provided substrate such that substantially immiscible boundary delineation occurs at any points of contact between the applied electrically conducive ink and the applied dielectric ink. An appropriate method of use for the rendering of a printed circuit board is also provided.

Abstract: A liquid developer which has excellent preservability, storage stability for a long period of time, and fixing characteristic of toner particles and which is also harmless to the environment is provided. The liquid developer contains an insulation liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid. The insulation liquid contains a saturated fatty acid and at least one component selected from a group comprising a linolenic acid component, a linoleic acid component and an oleic acid component. The liquid developer may contain an antioxidizing agent and an oxidation polymerization accelerator for accelerating an oxidation polymerization reaction of the linolenic acid component, the linoleic acid component or the oleic acid component during a fixing process.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising at least a photosensitive layer formed by laminating a charge generation layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport layer containing a charge transport material in this order, on a conductive support, wherein the charge generation layer contains an oxotitanylphthalocyanine as the charge generation material and metal oxide microparticles, and the electrophotographic photoreceptor has photosensitive properties in light source of wavelength range from 360 to 420 nm.

Abstract: Fluorescent magnetic powder in which a fluorescent dye is attached to the particles of magnetic powder is provided.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulating liquid; toner particles mainly constituted by a resin material; and a dispersant having an amine value, wherein a power of hydrogen ion concentration pH of the liquid developer at 24° C. is from 4 to 7.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulating liquid; toner particles constituted by a material containing a polyester resin; and an alkyl diamine and an amide compound having a hydroxy fatty acid skeleton as dispersants.

Abstract: Novel UV-curable liquid toner compositions, methods for preparing same and imaging processes and apparatus utilizing same are provided. The UV-curable liquid toner compositions include a dispersion of toner particles in a hydrocarbon based liquid carrier and one or more UV-curable component(s) which form a part of the carrier.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrier which carries liquid developer containing toner and carrier liquid; a developer carrier contact member which contacts the developer carrier; and a developer carrier contact control unit which controls the condition where the developer carrier and the developer carrier contact member contact each other with first contact pressure and the condition where the developer carrier and the developer carrier contact member contact each other with second contact pressure lower than the first contact pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring marking liquid including a carrier liquid having solid particles therein. A transmitter emits an ultrasonic signal into the marking liquid. The ultrasonic signal is received by a receiver and processed by a controller to determine at least one of the temperature of the marking liquid and the concentration of solid particles in the marking liquid.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum having a predetermined rotary shaft, an exposure device conducting exposure on the photosensitive drum so as to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photosensitive drum, a medium supplier that supplies the surface of the photosensitive drum with a liquid material so as to form a layer composed of the liquid material between the exposure device and the photosensitive drum, and a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum by using a liquid developer containing toner particles.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a turnable image bearing body for bearing a latent image; a turnable developer bearing body for bearing liquid developer, the developer bearing body and the image bearing body being pressed in contact with each other at a predetermined press-contact position, the developer bearing body being capable of carrying the liquid developer toward the press-contact position by turning, the image forming apparatus performing development of the latent image, which is bore by the image bearing body, with the liquid developer that has been carried toward the press-contact position; and a controller for causing the development of the latent image to start after a predetermined period of time has passed from when the turning speed of the developer bearing body and the image bearing body reached a predetermined turning speed for development at which the development is performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least one image bearing member; at least one charging device configured to charge a surface of the at least one image bearing member; and at least one developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the at least one image bearing member with a developer including a toner to form a toner image thereon, wherein the surface of the image bearing member has a friction coefficient of from 0.10 to 0.30. The image forming apparatus can include a lubricant applicator configured to apply a lubricant to the image bearing member. Alternatively, the outermost layer of the image bearing member can include a lubricant.

Abstract: A toner development unit for an image forming apparatus including a roller and an electrode adjacent thereto, the electrode having an arcuate extent adjacent to a portion of a surface of the roller to define a toner application gap therebetween, the roller being adapted to rotate in a given direction wherein the gap diverges in the direction of rotation of the roller relative to the electrode.

Abstract: A wet image forming device includes a plurality of developer support members that support a developer including a toner and a carrier functioning as a toner transfer agent, a plurality of image support members, the outer peripheral surfaces of each contacting the plurality of developer support members, and which support an electrostatic latent image developed with toner included in the developer supported by the plurality of developer support members, an intermediate transfer member to which an image developed on each of the plurality of image support members is transferred, a transfer roller that is pressed into contact with each of the plurality of image support members through the intermediate transfer member, and one or more carrier removing members that remove the carrier and arranged between a first image support member that is one of the plurality of image support members and a second image support member that is located adjacent to the first image support member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a surface-traveling latent image bearer bearing a latent image on the surface thereof; an image developer feeding a toner in a two-component developer including the toner and a carrier to the latent image in a developing area facing the latent image bearer to develop the latent image to form a toner image, including a developer stirrer and feeder circulating the two-component developer in circulation paths while stirring the two-component developer, including a driver independently driving the first and the second stirring and feeding members; a transferer transferring the toner image onto a recording material; and a controller controlling the driver such that an amount of the two-component developer fed by the second stirring and feeding member per unit time is relatively larger than that of the two-component developer fed by the first stirring and feeding member when a predetermined increase condition of stirring is satisfied.

Abstract: A communication unit has a first conveyance part connected to a toner cartridge and provided with a feed port for a toner from the toner cartridge, and a second conveyance part connected to a developing device and provided with a replenishment port for a toner to the developing device. In a state locked by the lock mechanism, the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part are connected to each other, and the feed port of the first conveyance part and the replenishment port of the second conveyance part are opened, allowing for a toner replenishment. In a lock-released state, the feed port of the first conveyance part and the replenishment port of the second conveyance part are closed by a circular arc-shaped shutter member and a rotary shutter member, allowing the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part to be separable from each other.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulating liquid containing a fatty acid monoester and a toner particle constituted mainly of a resin material, the main toner particle being shaped in a disc form.

Abstract: A composition includes at least one radiation curable (alkyl)acrylate-polyester oligomer, at least one photoinitiator, and at least one surfactant, wherein the composition has a viscosity of from about 50 cP to about 3000 cP at about 25° C., and a surface tension of from about 15 to about 40 dynes/cm at about 25° C.

Abstract: A density measuring device includes a moving member that can be moved in a liquid, a light emitting member and a light receiving member that receives light emitted by the light emitting member. A gap part in which the moving member is disposed in a path of light emitted from the light emitting member can be moved. A density measuring unit measures the density of the liquid based on the result of output of the light receiving member for a case where the moving member is located in the path of light emitted from the light emitting member and a case where the moving member is not located in the path of light emitted from the light emitting member.

Abstract: An image forming process comprises the steps of applying a first material for improving the wettability of the surface of an intermediate transfer medium to the intermediate transfer medium, applying a second material for lowering the flowability of an ink to the intermediate transfer medium to which the first material has been applied, applying the ink to the intermediate transfer medium, to which the first material and second material have been applied, from an ink-jet recording head to form an image of the ink on the intermediate transfer medium, and transferring the ink image formed to a recording medium.

Abstract: A pattern forming apparatus includes an intaglio having a pattern of depressions, developing units which form a first potential difference with the intaglio, supply a liquid developer containing charged phosphor particles to the pattern and develop by aggregating the phosphor particles in the depressions, and a transfer roller which forms a second potential difference with the developed intaglio and a glass sheet arranged in opposed relation to each other and sequentially transfers the phosphor particles aggregated in the depressions to the glass sheet.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulation liquid containing a fatty acid monoester and toner particles comprised of a resin material. The resin material is characterized in that a weight-average molecular weight Mw of the resin material is in the range of 20,000 to 200,000, and an amount of a component of which molecular weight M is 10,000 or less contained in the resin material is in the range of 5 to 40 wt %. The liquid developer described above is harmless to the environment. Further, the liquid developer also has superior preservability or storage stability and superior fixing characteristics at a low temperature. An image forming apparatus that can suitably use such a liquid developer is also provided.

Abstract: In a method or device for transport of liquid developer to an image carrier element for electrophoretic digital printing, a developer unit is arranged adjacent to the image carrier element, the developer unit directing a liquid developer having toner particles to the image carrier element, the toner particles crossing over to the image carrier element corresponding to previously-generated potential images. A raster unit is arranged adjacent to the developer unit. The raster unit transports the liquid developer to the developer unit by use of a raster. An electrical voltage is applied between the raster unit and the developer unit in order to exert a targeted field effect on the toner particles in a direction towards the developer unit. A chamber scraper having a dosing scraper is arranged adjacent to the raster unit and having liquid developer having the toner particles which are already charged. From the chamber scraper the raster unit accepts the liquid developer via the dosing scraper.

Abstract: A CPU 113 executes a control program stored in a memory 116 thereby forming a plurality of patch images with a developing bias increased for each of the patch images; detecting a density of each of the patch images by means of a patch sensor 17; and comparing the image densities to determine whether the image density is saturated or not. Then, an image forming condition in which an image density is substantially saturated is determined and is stored in the memory 116. When a print command signal is inputted from an external device via a main controller 100, a printing operation is performed under the image forming condition stored in the memory 116.

Abstract: Image recording device comprising a development system including toner particles comprising a gel latex, a high Tg latex, a wax, and a colorant, and a fuser member, such as a fluoropolymer coated fuser member, which produces images having improved document offset, vinyl offset and half-tone rub properties.

Abstract: A bubbly fluid producing method configured to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter is disclosed, which comprises a step of applying a shear to a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a bubble diameter larger than a desired bubble diameter so as to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter. A bubbly fluid producing device configured to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter is disclosed, which comprises a first member configured to apply a shear to a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a bubble diameter larger than a desired bubble diameter so as to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulation liquid containing a fatty acid monoester, and toner particles comprised of a polyester resin. By using the liquid developer, it is possible to provide superior fixing characteristic of toner particles to a recording medium. An image forming apparatus that can suitably use such a liquid developer is also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a turnable image bearing body for bearing a latent image; a turnable developer bearing body for bearing liquid developer, the developer bearing body and the image bearing body being pressed in contact with each other at a predetermined press-contact position, the developer bearing body being capable of carrying the liquid developer toward the press-contact position by turning, the image forming apparatus performing development of the latent image, which is bore by the image bearing body, with the liquid developer that has been carried toward the press-contact position; and a controller for causing the development of the latent image to start after a predetermined period of time has passed from when the turning speed of the developer bearing body and the image bearing body reached a predetermined turning speed for development at which the development is performed.

Abstract: Rinsing nozzles 310a to 310e are moved on a wafer W while they are discharging rinsing solution 326. At that point, discharging openings 317a to 317e are contacted to developing solution 350 coated on the wafer W or rinsing solution 326 on the wafer W. Thus, the impact against the wafer W can be suppressed. As a result, pattern collapse can be prevented. In addition, a front portion of the developing solution 350 can push away the developing solution 350.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes, for each of liquid developers of plural colors, a photosensitive member, a developing roller, an agitating device that agitates a liquid developer having a viscosity characteristic dependent on a shearing force, and a developer supplying unit that supplies the liquid developer to the developing roller. In development, agitation start timing is varied depending on the color of the liquid developer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developing unit 6 including a tank containing a liquid toner, a pick-up roller 10 for drawing the liquid toner from the tank, an application roller 11 whose circumferential surface 11a is supplied with the liquid toner by the pick-up roller 10, and a developing roller 12 whose circumferential surface 12a is applied with the liquid toner by the application roller 11. The pick-up roller 10 and the application roller 11 are arranged in parallel to each other and circumferential surfaces 10a, 11a thereof are in contact with each other. The circumferential surfaces 10a, 11a of the pick-up roller 10 and the application roller 11 are formed with a plurality of grooves 13, 14, respectively, which extend continuously in the axial direction X1.

Abstract: An insulating liquid used for a liquid developer containing toner particles, the insulating liquid includes a fatty acid triglyceride and a fatty acid monoester, the fatty acid triglyceride and the fatty acid monoester each containing an unsaturated fatty acid as a fatty acid component thereof, and an alcohol component constituting the fatty acid monoester having an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: In one implementation, an apparatus includes a foil that is adjacent to a portion of an ink developer electrode. The foil at least partially limits an accumulation of splashed ink along one or more portions of the ink developer electrode.

Abstract: A developer including a toner and a carrier, wherein the carrier is a ferrite carrier coated with a silicone resin and the following relationships are satisfied: log(?i Q(t)/Q?)=?kobt ?Q(t)=Q??Q(t) ?2.5?log(kob)??1 wherein Q(t) is a charge quantity (?C/g) of the developer after t sec which is a stirring time of the toner and the carrier; Q? is a saturated charge quantity (?C/g) of the developer; and kob is a chargeable speed of the developer.

Abstract: 1. A liquid developer is disclosed. The liquid developer includes an insulating liquid; and toner particles composed mainly of a resin material that are dispersed in the insulating liquid, wherein the insulating liquid contains a fatty acid monoester, and the resin material has a glass transition temperature Tg of 15 to 70° C. and a softening temperature Tf of 80 to 140° C.

Abstract: A method for reducing foam associated with an ink reservoir of a printing press is provided. The method can include printing a plurality of printed images with a nonaqueous ink delivered from an ink reservoir, periodically delivering a defoaming agent into the ink reservoir to reduce foam formation in the ink reservoir, and periodically delivering a charge control agent into the ink reservoir to charge the nonaqueous ink. Accordingly, fresh defoaming agent can be added to the ink reservoir periodically to reduce the level of foam in the reservoir and thus avoiding increasing foam levels associated with the degradation of the defoaming agent over time.

Abstract: An embodiment includes developing unit having a first developer roller and a second developer roller in contact with the first developer roller. The first developer roller is adapted to transfer developed liquid developer to the second developer roller, and the second developer roller is adapted to transfer the developed liquid developer to a photoconductor. An electrode is separated from the first developer roller by a gap. The gap is configured to receive undeveloped liquid developer from a reservoir remote from the developing unit so that the first developer roller does not pass through undeveloped liquid developer contained in a reservoir within the developing unit.

Abstract: A detector for detecting an abnormality in the developer passage includes a sensing unit for detecting a rotational speed of the developer pump, a rotational speed storage for storing rotational speed reference of the developer pump, and a controller for controlling the driving of the developer pump and detecting the abnormality in the developer passage on the basis of a comparison between a rotational speed calculation of the developer pump according to a detection signal from the sensing unit and a rotational speed reference of the developer pump stored in the rotational speed storage. The detector can be advantageously used for detecting a leak and/or a clogging in the developer passage caused by a manufacture/assembly defect, or sediment of the developer sludge, and can inform the user about the abnormal state of the developer passage.

Abstract: A liquid developing device includes an ink cartridge, a developing container connected to the ink cartridge in which ink is circulated between the developing container and the ink cartridge, a photosensitive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing roller facing the photosensitive body, being rotatable to supply the ink to the electrostatic latent image, and a depositing member being installed to maintain a depositing gap between the depositing member and the developing roller and to attach the ink to the developing roller by a potential difference, wherein the developing container includes a first developing container having an outlet opened in a lengthwise direction and an inlet connected to the ink cartridge at a position lower than the outlet, and a second developing container in which ink overflowing from the first developing container via the outlet is stored and which has a drawing hole connected to the ink cartridge, and the ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the first d

Abstract: An image forming method includes: by using a plurality of liquid developers having different colors, forming a plurality of single color images corresponding to the colors; transferring a non-fixed color image onto a recording medium; and fixing the non-fixed color image onto the recording medium. In the image forming method, each of the liquid developers includes an insulting liquid containing unsaturated fatty acid components and toner particles dispersed in the insulating liquid, and an oxidation polymerization accelerator that accelerates an oxidation polymerization reaction of the unsaturated fatty acid components during fixation is contained in the liquid developer forming the single color image that is positioned closest to the recording medium among the plurality of single color images forming the non-fixed color image.

Abstract: A wet type image forming apparatus forms an image in accordance with an electrophotographic imaging process using a developing solution containing a toner in a carrier solution. The image forming apparatus includes a developing roller that holds the developing solution thereon, the developing roller being electrically charged to attract a toner contained in the developing solution toward its surface, a photoconductive drum on which a latent image to be developed is formed, the photoconductive roller being arranged to contact the developing roller, a scraping blade disposed in contact with the developing roller, the scraping blade scraping off the developing solution that has not been consumed for developing from the surface of the developing roller, and a toner separator that separates the toner that has not been consumed for developing from the surface of the developing solution carrier before the developing solution is scraped off by the scraping blade.

Abstract: A liquid toner imaging system having at least one metal product, having a coating on at least a portion thereof, the coating having a thickness of between about 0.1 and about 2 microns thereon, said coating comprising an anionic fluorosurfactant, said coating being in contact with liquid toner therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the removal or waste or excess ink and a method for disposal of ink from electrophotographic printers comprises providing electrophotographic ink from a source, combining the ink with an absorbable material in a container to form a solid within the container, and closing the container so that the container with the solid inside may be disposed of without ink flowing from the container.

Abstract: Widths of a coating area, a developing agent carrier, a maximum image area and a first cleaning member taken along a second direction are respectively W1, W2, W3 and W4, the following conditions are satisfied: a first condition that W1>W2 is met and in the second direction, the both edges of the developing agent carrier are located on the inner side to the both edges of the coating area, a second condition that W2>W3 is met and in the second direction, the both edges of the image area are located on the inner side to the both edges of the developing agent carrier, and a third condition that W4>W2 is met and in the second direction, the both edges of the developing agent carrier are located on the inner side to the both edges of the first cleaning member.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sludge prevention apparatus of a tube member and an image forming apparatus provided with such a sludge prevention apparatus. The sludge prevention apparatus comprises a sludge stirring member located in a tube member to be movable, so that the sludge stirring member stirs the developer sludge deposited or as being deposited in the tube member, the liquid developer being discharged from or flowing into a developer storage chamber through the tube member; and an operating member installed in the developer storage chamber to correspond to the sludge stirring member in such a manner that the operating member operates the sludge stirring member to stir the developer sludge. The sludge prevention apparatus and the image forming apparatus with the same can prevent the tube member from being blocked by the developer sludge deposited in the tube member.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image carrier, includes a liquid developing agent, wherein toner particles are dispersed in a liquid solvent, and wherein a viscosity of the liquid developing agent is in a range 100 mPa·s to 1000 mPa·s, inclusive, a developing container for containing the liquid developing agent, a developing agent carrier for carrying the liquid developing agent within the developing container to the image carrier, wherein the developing agent carrier is disposed so as to form a gap between the developing agent carrier and the image carrier; and a developing bias voltage power supply for applying a developing bias voltage, which superimposes a DC voltage component and an AC voltage component to the developing agent carrier, wherein a peak voltage of the AC voltage component is in a range of 0.5 kV to 2 kV, inclusive, and a frequency of the AC voltage component is in a range of 10 kHz to 12 kHz, inclusive.

Abstract: Liquid toner which remains on the surface of a photosensitive drum 2 after transfer of a toner image to an intermediate transfer member 1 is collected in a collection pot 6a. The collected liquid toner is led to a carrier pot 20, and is stored there. In response to an instruction, the stored liquid toner is fed to a toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10. Liquid toner which remains on the surface of a development roller 3 after supply of liquid toner from the development roller 3 to the photosensitive drum 2 is collected in a collection pot 6b. The collected liquid toner is fed directly to the toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10. Liquid toner having undergone concentration adjustment in the toner concentration adjustment apparatus 10 is fed to a supply pot 7, from which the liquid toner is supplied to the development roller 3 via a supply roller 4, whereby the liquid toner is used for development of electrostatic latent images.

Abstract: A liquid development device has a developer retaining roller having recesses, which are for retaining liquid developer, provided in the surface of the developer retaining roller; and a supplying roller for supplying the liquid developer to the developer retaining roller. The upper edge of the supplying roller is located above the lower edge of the developer retaining roller in the vertical direction, and the supplying roller supplies the liquid developer to the developer retaining roller downwards from above.

Abstract: A printer cartridge for electrographic printing (dry or liquid) is provided with two chambers connected by a developer transportation system that traverses a development zone in a first direction. As the toner (developer) from a first of the two compartments is fed through the development zone, excess or unused toner is transported by the developer transportation system into a second of the two compartments. When the first compartment has exhausted its supply of toner, there will be sufficient toner captured in the second compartment to allow for printing capability to be maintained in the system, without any replenishment. The direction of flow of developer during printing is reversed from the second compartment to the first compartment, passing through the development zone.