Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heating unit configured to heat a medium to be conveyed along a conveyance path by radiation; and a shielding unit made of non-metallic material, the shielding unit being configured to form a shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is shielded and a non-shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is not shielded, in which the shielding unit being expanded in a direction intersecting the radiation in the shielding state and is stored in the non-shielding state.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a toner image forming device and a gloss treatment device. The toner image forming device accommodates a color toner that forms a color toner image on a printing medium, and which accommodates a clear toner that forms a clear toner image on the printing medium. The clear toner has a wax content that is lower than a wax content of the color toner. The gloss treatment device melts the clear toner on the printing medium to apply gloss treatment to the printing medium including the color toner image and the clear toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that includes an endless belt to convey a print medium, a heating roller to heat the endless belt, a pressing roller that presses the endless belt against the heating roller along a nip region of the endless belt, and a conveyance switching device to move the endless belt between a first position that directs the print medium away from the endless belt when the print medium exits the nip region, and a second position that conveys the print medium to remain in contact with the endless belt when the print medium exits the nip region.

Abstract: A toner container used in an image forming apparatus including an exposure unit with a light emitting diode light source includes a container body, and a cyan toner stored in the container body. A lightness L*, a hue a*, and a hue b* of the cyan toner in a powder state satisfy 26.94?L*?34.84, ?5.13?a*?3.83, and ?47.47?b*??36.78.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing a binder resin containing a polyester resin forming a sea part and a vinyl resin forming an island part of a sea-island structure, a first release agent existing in the sea part in a domain state, and a second release agent existing in the island part in a domain state, wherein when a cross-sectional area of the second release agent is set to A1 and a cross-sectional area of the first release agent is set to B1 in a cross section of the toner particles, a relationship of 0.2?A1/B1?0.8 is satisfied.

Abstract: A recording-material cooling device includes a first cooling member, a second cooling member, an approach-and-separation member, and a positioning member. The first cooling member is disposed at a first face side of a recording material to absorb heat of the recording material. The second cooling member is disposed at a second face side of the recording material to absorb heat of the recording material. The approach-and-separation member brings the first cooling member and the second cooling member close to and away from each other. The positioning member positions the first cooling member and the second cooling member relatively brought close to each other by the approach-and-separation member.

Abstract: A toner including a binder resin and a colorant, the toner having a core-shell structure containing a core and a shell, wherein the binder resin contains a crystalline polyester resin and a non-crystalline polyester resin, wherein a ratio (A/B) of a mass (A) of the crystalline polyester resin to a mass (B) of the non-crystalline polyester resin is 5/95 to 75/25, and wherein a ratio (Ds/Dc) of a hardness (Ds) of the shell to hardness (Dc) of the core is 1.05 to 1.50 where the hardnesses (Ds) and (Dc) are measured with a scanning probe microscope.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid developer containing a toner that has a ratio G? (65)/G?(90) of a storage modulus G? (65) at 65° C. to a storage modulus G? (90) at 90° C. of from 1×103 to 1×105, and a carrier liquid that has a difference ?SP(tc) of SP value between the carrier liquid and the toner of from 1.5 to 7.0, and an image forming apparatus containing an electrostatic latent image holding member, a charging device, a latent image forming device, a developing device, a transfer device and a fixing device.

Abstract: An image forming method is disclosed, comprising transferring and fixing steps, wherein fixing is performed by a fixing device in which at least one of a heating member and a pressing member comprises an endless belt entrained about plural rollers, and the heating member and the pressing member are pressed against each other to form a fixing nip, and wherein toner particles contains a binder resin which has a domain/matrix structure constituted of a high-elastic resin forming a domain and a low-elastic resin forming a matrix in an elastic image obtained when observing the toner particles by an atomic force microscope with respect to a section of the individual toner particles, in which an arithmetic average value of a ratio (L/W) of a major axis (L) to a minor axis (W) of individual domains is 1.5 to 5.

Abstract: Electrophotographic printing of one or more layers of toner to enable the printing of a wide range of toner mass laydown using electrophotography to produce prints with raised letters. This method encompasses the steps of forming multicolor toner images and fusing the print one or more times to create the raised print having the desired height of raised print.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a fusing method and system of tuning gloss level on a copy substrate. The method includes obtaining an image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium including a charge-retentive surface to receive an electrostatic latent image thereon. The method includes applying toner to the charge-retentive surface to develop an electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the charge-retentive surface. The developed image is transferred from the charge retentive surface to a copy substrate. The toner images are fused to a surface of the copy substrate. The gloss is adjusted on the copy substrate by providing a fuser member having a surface layer a fluoroplastic matrix having dispersed therein aerogel particles wherein the greater a weight percent of the aerogel particles in the fluoroplastic matrix the lower the gloss.

Abstract: The present invention is an electroconductive endless belt used in an image forming apparatus in which a decrease with use in the gloss value caused by frictions and the like with papers and cleaning blade is suppressed. In the electroconductive endless belt, the base resin of the electroconductive endless belt comprises a polyalkylene terephthalate resin in combination with a naphthalene ring-containing thermoplastic resin and/or a naphthalene ring-containing thermoplastic elastomer having a melting point higher than that of the polyalkylene terephthalate resin, and the mass ratio of the polyalkylene terephthalate resin to the naphthalene ring-containing thermoplastic resin and/or the naphthalene ring-containing thermoplastic elastomer in the base resin is in the range of 90/10 to 50/50.

Abstract: A toner including a binder resin and a colorant, the toner having a core-shell structure containing a core and a shell, wherein the binder resin contains a crystalline polyester resin and a non-crystalline polyester resin, wherein a ratio (A/B) of a mass (A) of the crystalline polyester resin to a mass (B) of the non-crystalline polyester resin is 5/95 to 75/25, and wherein a ratio (Ds/Dc) of a hardness (Ds) of the shell to hardness (Dc) of the core is 1.05 to 1.50 where the hardnesses (Ds) and (Dc) are measured with a scanning probe microscope.

Abstract: A method of forming a glossy image is disclosed, comprising the steps of (a) forming a clear toner particle layer with clear toner particles on an image support, (b) heating and pressing the clear toner particle layer formed on the image support, while bringing the surface of the clear toner particle layer into contact with a belt, and (c) cooling the clear toner particle layer to form a clear toner layer, wherein the clear toner particles contain a binder resin and a releasing agent and exhibit a heat quantity of fusion of not less than 3.0 J/g and not more than 9.5 J/g, and the clear toner particles meeting the following requirement: 0.5?S2/S1?1.0.

Abstract: A transparent toner for forming a glossy surface is disclosed, wherein a critical surface tension of a glossy surface formed by the transparent toner at 20° C. is at least 50 mN/m, and the transparent toner comprises a resin composed of a polymer formed by employing at least a polymerizable monomer containing a carboxylic group (—COOH). An image forming method employing the transparent tone is also disclosed.

Abstract: A toner particle including a mother particle and an outer shell layer is provided. The mother particle includes a binder resin and a colorant. The outer shell layer is formed of a reaction product of a silicon compound chemically binding to a surface of the mother particle. The outer shell layer may be formed on either the whole surface or a part of the surface of the mother particle. The reaction product of the silicon compound may be a silica compound.

Abstract: Electrophotographic printing of one or more layers of toner to enable the printing of a wide range of toner mass laydown using electrophotography to produce prints with raised letters. This method encompasses the steps of forming multicolor toner images and fusing the print one or more times to create the raised print, having the desired height of raised print.

Abstract: Provided is a method for forming an image containing the steps of: supplying a clear toner on a surface of an image forming support; heating the supplied clear toner on the surface of the image forming support to melt; close contacting the surface of the image forming support supplied with the clear toner with a belt; and cooling the clear toner in a state of close contacting with the belt so as to form a clear toner layer on the image forming support, wherein the aforesaid clear toner contains at least a resin formed with a polymerizable monomer represented by Formula (1) and a vinyl monomer, Formula (1): H2?CR1—COOR2, wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and R2 represents a chain alkyl group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, or a cyclic alkyl group.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials, methods, and systems for a fuser member used in electrophotographic devices and processes, wherein the fuser member can include a coating material containing a plurality of nanoceram fibers dispersed in a polymer matrix for providing a desired gloss level of fused toner images.

Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention heats a metal conductive layer of a heat roller using an induction current generating coil. In order to supplement a heat capacity of the heat roller, a press roller having a large heat capacity is heated by a halogen lamp. During a start of activation of an image forming apparatus, when a printer control circuit is started, the supply of electric power to the halogen lamp is started before warming-up is started.

Abstract: Fixing systems and methods for fixing marking material to a substrate are provided.

Abstract: A toner including: toner particles which include: a colorant, a releasing agent, and a binder resin. The number average particle diameter of the toner particles is in the range of from 3.5 ?m to 6.5 ?m, wherein the number average particle diameter is determined by the Coulter method, the variation coefficient of the number distribution of the toner particles is in the range of 22.0 to 35.0, wherein the variation coefficient is found by dividing the standard deviation of the number distribution by the number average particle diameter, and 40% by number to 59% by number of the toner particles are 4.0 ?m to 8.0 ?m in diameter.

Abstract: An objective is to provide an image forming method by which sufficient fixing strength can be obtained at a low temperature of 120° C., excellent print images with no belt-like or streak image defect can be obtained, and no document offsetting is generated even though the superimposed print images are stored. Disclosed is an image forming method comprising the step of fixing a toner image formed with a toner comprising a releasing agent on a transfer material employing a contact-heating fixing device comprising a heating roller and a belt-shaped pressure body, wherein the heating roller is placed on the upper side of the transfer material, the releasing agent comprises the 1st releasing agent component and the 2nd releasing agent component, and the 1st releasing agent component has a content of 40-98% by weight, based on the total weight of the 1st and 2nd releasing agent components.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt including a metal layer, a pressing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing belt, an induction current generating coil that faces an outer periphery of the fixing belt, and heats the fixing belt located at a nip position through a hollow inside of the fixing belt, and a coil controller supplies a high frequency to the induction current generating coil.

Abstract: A toner which can efficiently induce high-frequency magnetic induction heating by Neel relaxation and/or Brown relaxation is provided. A toner including a core particle containing a thermoplastic polymer material and superparamagnetic ferrite fine particles having a particle diameter of less than 100 nm which adhere to the surfaces of the core particle is manufactured by directly forming the superparamagnetic ferrite fine particles having a particle diameter of less than 100 nm on the surfaces of the core particle so that the superparamagnetic ferrite fine particles having a particle diameter of less than 100 nm are not in contact with each other. As a result, the toner is prevented from being scattered due to the influence of a magnetic field, so that a high quality image is formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous toner particle with encapsulated metallic flakes. The porous particle containing metallic flakes can be useful for reproduction of a metallic hue upon fusing to a substrate, preferably golden or silvery hue, and for manufacturing of printed circuits, by a printing process, especially electrophotography.

Abstract: An image forming method is disclosed, comprising transferring and fixing steps, wherein fixing is performed by a fixing device in which at least one of a heating member and a pressing member comprises an endless belt entrained about plural rollers, and the heating member and the pressing member are pressed against each other to form a fixing nip, and wherein toner particles contains a binder resin which has a domain/matrix structure constituted of a high-elastic resin forming a domain and a low-elastic resin forming a matrix in an elastic image obtained when observing the toner particles by an atomic force microscope with respect to a section of the individual toner particles, in which an arithmetic average value of a ratio (L/W) of a major axis (L) to a minor axis (W) of individual domains is 1.5 to 5.

Abstract: A toner useful for an oilless fixing method, includes a binder resin; a colorant; and 2.0 to 4.5% by weight of a wax which is soluble in n-hexane, based on a total weight of the toner, wherein the wax is dispersed in the toner, the wax forming wax domain particles (DA) comprising wax domain particles (DS) exposed at a surface of the toner and wax domain particles (DI) encapsulated in the toner and not exposed at the surface of the toner, wherein a weight of the DS is greater than a weight of the DI, wherein the toner from which the DS have been eluted with n-hexane comprises vestigial concavities having an area of 0.01 ??m2 or more on the surface of the toner in an amount of from 1 to 7 pcs/4 ?m2, and wherein 60% or more by number of the DA having a particle diameter of 200 nm or more have a spindle or cylindrical shape having an aspect ratio of 4 or more.

Abstract: A toner is provided including a binder resin and a wax having primarily C—H and C—C bonds, and having a melting point of 50 to 90° C., wherein the wax is present in a surface portion of the toner in an amount of from 0.1 to 4.0% by weight, wherein the amount of the wax is determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR); and the use of the toner in an image forming method, image forming apparatus, developer and toner cartridge containing the toner.

Abstract: A fixing device including a fixing member to melt a toner so as to fix a toner image onto a recording medium, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the fixing member, and a heater to heat the fixing member based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A driving speed of the fixing member is reduced after printing is completed, and subsequently the fixing member stops driving. The fixing member is controlled to have a desired temperature (Ts) after the fixing member stops driving that is lower than a desired temperature (Tp) during printing.

Abstract: A transparent toner for forming a glossy surface is disclosed, wherein a critical surface tension of a glossy surface formed by the transparent toner at 20° C. is at least 50 mN/m, and the transparent toner comprises a resin composed of a polymer formed by employing at least a polymerizable monomer containing a carboxylic group (—COOH). An image forming method employing the transparent tone is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming method comprising the steps of: (i) charging a surface of a photoreceptor; (ii) exposing the charged photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image; (iii) developing the electrostatic latent image using a toner comprising at least a release agent to form a toner image; (iv) transferring the toner image on the photoreceptor to a transfer material; and (v) fixing the toner image transferred on the transfer material employing a contact-heating fixing devise comprising a pair of belts, wherein the releasing agent comprises a first release agent component containing a monoester compound represented by Formula (1) and a second release agent component containing a hydrocarbon having a branched chain structure, wherein a content of the first release agent is 40 to 98% by mass, based on a total mass of the first release agent component and the second release agent component: R1—COO—R2.

Abstract: An image forming method of forming images on both sides of a recording sheet; comprising the steps of: fixing a first toner image on a first surface a recording sheet; and fixing a second toner image on a second surface of the recording sheet; wherein in two-component developer includes toner particles each containing a binder resin having a glass transition temperature Tg° C. and a colorant and carrier particles in each on which magnetic powder is dispersed in a binder resin including a phenol formaldehyde obtained by a polymerization process, and the first toner image is fixed with first heat in such a way that the surface temperature of the first surface of the recording sheet is a temperature in a range of Tg° C. or more and lower than 100° C.

Abstract: An image forming method including electrostatic image forming step, developing step, transferring step, fixing step and oil application step for applying an oil to a fixing member, wherein the toner includes a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and the relationship (A2/A1)×100<200 is satisfied, wherein A1 represents the area of the oil dropped on a pellet of the toner measured 30 seconds after dropping the oil, and A2 represents the area of the dropped oil measured 24 hours after dropping the oil. Alternatively, the relationships (X1?X2)<0.5 atomic percent, X1>1.0 atomic percent, and X2>1.0 atomic percent, are satisfied, wherein X1 and X2 represent amounts of Si atoms of the silicone oil measured by subjecting the toner image to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at times 5 minutes and 24 hours, respectively, after fixing the toner image.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of treating marking material on media are disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatuses includes a roll including a first outer surface; a continuous belt including an inner surface and a second outer surface forming a nip by contact with the first outer surface, the belt being driven by rotation of the roll; and a heater disposed inside of the belt. The heater includes a circumferentially-extending heating surface contacting the inner surface of the belt over an angle of at least about 90°.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrophotographic image forming method which comprises steps of forming a toner image on an image support, fixing the toner image on the image support in a fixing nip section of a fixing device employing a contact heating system and the toner contains a first releasing agent, a dynamic viscosity of the first releasing agent is 4-20 mm2/sec; and a fixing temperature in the fixing nip section of the fixing device is 75-100° C. higher than a melting point of the first releasing agent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to shorten a warm-up time required to fuse a visible image to a printing medium is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an indirect heating member to indirectly transfer radiant heat to the visible image formed on the printing medium passing through the fusing nip, and a direct heating member to directly transfer resistance heat to the visible image formed on the printing medium passing through the fusing nip. Accordingly, since the radiant heat generated from the indirect heating member heats the direct heating member, a heating rate of the direct heating member increases, and the warm-up time required to reach a predetermined fusing temperature to fuse the visible image is shortened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided which form high-quality fixed images having no fogs and the like defects, in which apparatus and method a toner entering a pressure-contact area between rollers is prevented from scattering. A control is performed on preheating conditions for preheating an unfixed toner image on a recording medium, which unfixed toner image indicates a toner image transferred but not yet fixed, and a control is further performed such that an amount of toner attached to the recording medium at a coverage rate of 100% is 0.4 mg/cm2 or less, with the result that the toner is prevented from scattering when the recording medium carrying the unfixed toner image passes through a pressure-contact area formed between a heating roller and a pressurizing roller in a fixing step.

Abstract: An electrophotographic method for producing fused toner images on a receiver medium comprising the steps of: forming an electrostatic image pattern on an image forming member; developing the image pattern on the image forming member with fusible toner particles thereby forming a toner image thereon; transferring the toner image to the receiver medium; and heating the toner image to form a fused toner image on the receiver medium, wherein an amount of a plasticizer is added to the toner particles of the toner image after formation of the toner image on the image forming member and prior to or concurrent with fusing of the transferred toner image on the receiver medium, further wherein the amount of plasticizer added is effective in lowering the Tg of the toner below that of the toner under prevailing ambient conditions in the absence of the added plasticizer.

Abstract: Fuser assemblies, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, at least a first roll and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, and a radiant heater facing the inner surface of the fuser belt. The radiant heater is adapted to emit radiant heat onto the inner surface of the fuser belt to increase the temperature of the outer surface of the fuser belt opposite the inner surface heated by the radiant heater.

Abstract: Fuser assemblies for fusing toner on media, xerographic apparatuses, and methods of fusing toner on media in xerographic apparatuses are disclosed. An embodiment of the fuser assemblies includes a fuser belt; a first roll supporting the fuser belt, the first roll including a first heating element and a second heating element extending axially along the first roll and along a width of the fuser belt, the first heating element being longer than the second heating element; and a second roll supporting the fuser belt, the second roll including a third heating element and a fourth heating element extending axially along the second roll and along the width of the fuser belt, the third heating element being longer than the fourth heating element.

Abstract: A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. The width of the metal belt is made larger than that of the elastic roller. Flanges, each of which regulates a sliding movement of the metal belt by being in contact with an edge of the metal belt, are provided on both sides of a press roller opposite the metal belt.

Abstract: 1. A fluororesin tube in which the machine direction shrinkage rate is 1 to 8% and the transverse direction shrinkage rate is 2 to 8%, upon heating to 150° C. 2. A fluororesin tube in which the machine direction expansion rate is 0.5 to 4% and the transverse direction shrinkage rate is 1 to 6%, upon heating to 150° C. 3. A fluororesin tube in which the machine direction shrinkage rate is 1 to 8% and the transverse direction expansion rate is 1 to 4%, upon heating to 150° C.

Abstract: An image forming method, which comprises: forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a latent image supporting member; developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image supporting member with a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image or an electrostatic latent image developer containing the toner and a carrier to form a toner image; transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the latent image supporting member onto a surface of a transfer receiving material; and fixing the toner image transferred onto the transfer receiving material under pressure, wherein the toner comprises a block copolymer having a crystalline polyester block and a non-crystalline polyester block, and wherein a maximum pressure applied when the image is fixed is 1 MPa or greater but not greater than 10 MPa.

Abstract: A toner including a binder resin, a wax, and a colorant, wherein particles of the wax having a particle diameter of less than 1.00 ?m are included in the toner in an amount of not less than 35% by number and less than 55% by number, and wherein the wax has a particle diameter distribution property such that when particle diameters of particles of the wax are classified into ranges having a width of 0.05 ?m, the wax has a particle diameter mode value that is not less than 0.75 ?m and less than 1.00 ?m; and a fixing method and an image forming method using the above toner.

Abstract: A toner kit including a color toner containing a first binder resin and a coloring agent; transparent and colorless resin particulates comprising a second binder resin, wherein the half effusion temperature of the color toner and the half effusion temperature of the transparent and colorless resin particulates measured by a flow tester satisfy the following relationship: (the half effusion temperature of the color toner measured by the flow tester)?(the half effusion temperature of the transparent and colorless particulates measured by the flow tester)>30° C.

Abstract: Images produced by electrophotography are often subjected to harsh conditions, such as high temperature and high relative humidity conditions. Prints when subjected to face-to-face stacking under these conditions tend to stick and are difficult to separate without damage. Ethylene-bis-stearamide is incorporated in a protective toner formulation employing a toner binder having a higher glass transition temperature than that of the conventional CYMK colored image toners employed to provide a protective layer in fused images. Further, ethylene-bis-stearamide does not interfere with typical oil release additives used in fuser rollers. By combining ethylene-bis-stearamide with polyalkane waxes having a weight average molecular weight of equal to or greater than 2000 and a poly dispersity of less than 2.0, addition protection can be realized.

Abstract: The present invention reduces delay in supplying heat to fixing nip when sheet passes therethrough and overcomes disadvantages like uneven gloss in page and fixing faults by including temperature detector 83 detecting temperatures of fixing member including heat application roller and fixing belt, leading end detector 85 detecting timing leading end of sheet passes through predetermined position upstream in conveyance path from fixing position by distance portion of fixing belt having been in position heated by heat application part 81 travels to fixing position, and temperature controller 87 performing normal temperature control being on-off control of heat application part 81 based on detected temperature until sheet passes through, keeping heat application part 81 on until detected temperature reaches switching temperature if it exceeds switching temperature and heat application part 81 is off before detection when the sheet passes through and resuming normal temperature control when it reaches predetermin

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first fixing device that applies heat to a non fixed toner image and a second fixing device arranged downstream of the first fixing device, which applies pressure and fixes the non-fixed toner image onto a recording member.

Abstract: A toner is provided that includes a binder resin which is selected from (a) a polyester resin, (b) a hybrid resin comprising a polyester unit and a vinyl copolymer unit, and (c) a mixture of a polyester resin and a hybrid resin, a colorant, a release agent, and at least one of an aluminum compound and a zirconium compound of an aromatic oxycarboxylic acid. The toner has a 1/2 flow starting temperature of from 120 to 130° C. measured by a flow tester, and a storage elastic modulus (G?) of from 50,000 to 200,000 Pa and a tan ?(G?/G?) that is a ratio of a loss elastic modulus (G?) to a storage elastic modulus (G?) of from 1.0 to 3.0 at a frequency of 10 Hz, a temperature of 100° C., and a stress of 2,000 Pa.