Abstract: A fixing device, and an image forming method and an image forming apparatus using the fixing device. The fixing device includes an application unit to apply a foam-like fixing agent including a softener to particulates including a resin on a medium, the softener softening the particulates by at least partially dissolving or swelling the resin and a thickness control unit to control a layer thickness of the foam-like fixing agent such that an application time during which the foam-like fixing agent is applied to the particulates is not shorter than a penetration time required for the foam-like fixing agent to penetrate through a layer of the particulates to the medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is, for example, a fixation device of fixing a resin-containing fine particle, the fixation device being configured to foam a fixation fluid including at least a softening agent configured to dissolve or swell at least one portion of a resin to soften the resin-containing fine particle including a resin, a foaming agent, and water, and to provide a foamed fixation fluid to the resin-containing fine particle, the fixation device including a first storage part configured to contain a softening agent fluid including at least the softening agent, a second storage part configured to contain a foaming agent fluid including at least the foaming agent, and a mixed foamed fixation fluid producing part configured to mix and foam both fluids contained in independent states in the storage parts to produce the foamed fixation fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixation fluid, including a softening agent(s), the softening agent(s) being a saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid ester(s) of a saturated aliphatic alcohol(s) and/or a carbonic acid ester(s) of a dihydric saturated aliphatic alcohol(s), a foaming agent(s), the foaming agent(s) being a non-ionic surfactant(s) and/or an amphoteric surfactant(s), water, a pH adjustor(s), the pH adjustor(s) being an acid(s) and/or a salt(s) of the acid(s), and a pH of the fixation fluid being 6 or more and 7 or less.

Abstract: A disclosed fixing device includes a fixer application unit configured to apply a fixer containing a softener, capable of softening resin by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin, and water to resin particles formed on a recording medium such that the resin particles are fixed on the recording medium, and an anti-tack agent application unit configured to apply a liquid anti-tack agent immiscible with the softener to surfaces of the resin particles that are mixed with the softener by the application of the fixer containing the softener.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus to fix unfixed toner carried on a surface of a recording medium by attaching a fixing solution capable of softening toner onto the unfixed toner is provided. The fixing apparatus includes a sprayer to spray the fixing solution; a fixing solution charging part to charge the fixing solution; a first electrode to rotate and provided on a same side of the recording medium as the surface carrying the unfixed toner; a second electrode provided on an opposite side of the recording medium to the surface carrying the unfixed toner; and a voltage applying part to generate an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the fixing solution sprayed by the sprayer and charged by the fixing solution charging part moves toward the second electrode.

Abstract: A temperature control unit that maintains a temperature of a fixing liquid includes a container, some or all of which is formed of a heat conservation member, configured to store the fixing liquid that dissolves or causes a toner to swell, a heater provided to an image forming apparatus for heating the container through the heat conservation member, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the fixing liquid in the container, a controller for controlling an amount of heat that is transferred from the heater to the heat conservation member of the container based on a detection result provided by the temperature sensor, and a fixing liquid applicator for supplying the fixing liquid in the container to a toner on a recording medium so as to fix the toner onto the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes the temperature control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing liquid containing a softening agent that softens resin-containing fine particles by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin; a C12-C18 fatty acid; and a C12-C18 fatty acid salt. The fixing liquid is mixed with water serving as a dilution solvent.

Abstract: A bubbly fluid producing method configured to produce a bubbly fluid containing a bubble with a desired bubble diameter, includes 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, includes 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: To provide a fixing solution for fixing fine resin particles to a recording medium, the fixing solution including: a diluent which contains water; a foaming agent which allows the fixing solution to be in the form of foam; and a solid plasticizer which is solid at normal temperature and soluble in the diluent, and which softens or swells at least part of the fine resin particles while dissolved in the diluent.

Abstract: A disclosed fixing device fixes unfixed toner onto a recording sheet with the use of toner fixing liquid including a softening agent for softening toner. The fixing device includes a sprayer configured to spray the toner fixing liquid as liquid droplets and a liquid droplet charging unit configured to apply an electric charge to the sprayed liquid droplets. The sprayer sprays the liquid droplets onto the unfixed toner placed on the recording sheet. The liquid droplet charging unit applies, to the sprayed liquid droplets, an electric charge of an electric charge polarity that is the same as that of the unfixed toner.

Abstract: A replacement unit having a toner bottle and a fixing liquid bottle integrated with each other is attached to a printer main body (image forming apparatus main body). Toner particles accommodated in the toner bottle are allowed to be supplied to a development device of the image forming apparatus main body. A sheet member (sealing unit) of a liquid supplying port of the fixing liquid bottle is broken by an insertion pin provided in the printer main body in synchronization with the attachment of the replacement unit to the printer main body. A toner fixing liquid including a softening agent for softening the toner particles and a solvent for dissolving or dispersing the softening agent is supplied from the fixing liquid bottle to a fixing liquid storage of a fixing device of the printer main body.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus to fix unfixed toner carried on a surface of a recording medium by attaching a fixing solution capable of softening toner onto the unfixed toner is provided. The fixing apparatus includes a sprayer to spray the fixing solution; a fixing solution charging part to charge the fixing solution; a first electrode to rotate and provided on a same side of the recording medium as the surface carrying the unfixed toner; a second electrode provided on an opposite side of the recording medium to the surface carrying the unfixed toner; and a voltage applying part to generate an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the fixing solution sprayed by the sprayer and charged by the fixing solution charging part moves toward the second electrode.

Abstract: A temperature control unit that maintains a temperature of a fixing liquid includes a container, some or all of which is formed of a heat conservation member, configured to store the fixing liquid that dissolves or causes a toner to swell, a heater provided to an image forming apparatus for heating the container through the heat conservation member, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the fixing liquid in the container, a controller for controlling an amount of heat that is transferred from the heater to the heat conservation member of the container based on a detection result provided by the temperature sensor, and a fixing liquid applicator for supplying the fixing liquid in the container to a toner on a recording medium so as to fix the toner onto the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes the temperature control unit.

Abstract: A replacement unit having a toner bottle and a fixing liquid bottle integrated with each other is attached to a printer main body (image forming apparatus main body). Toner particles accommodated in the toner bottle are allowed to be supplied to a development device of the image forming apparatus main body. A sheet member (sealing unit) of a liquid supplying port of the fixing liquid bottle is broken by an insertion pin provided in the printer main body in synchronization with the attachment of the replacement unit to the printer main body. A toner fixing liquid including a softening agent for softening the toner particles and a solvent for dissolving or dispersing the softening agent is supplied from the fixing liquid bottle to a fixing liquid storage of a fixing device of the printer main body.

Abstract: A fixing device, and an image forming method and an image forming apparatus using the fixing device. The fixing device includes an application unit to apply a foam-like fixing agent including a softener to particulates including a resin on a medium, the softener softening the particulates by at least partially dissolving or swelling the resin and a thickness control unit to control a layer thickness of the foam-like fixing agent such that an application time during which the foam-like fixing agent is applied to the particulates is not shorter than a penetration time required for the foam-like fixing agent to penetrate through a layer of the particulates to the medium.

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 disclosed fixing device fixes unfixed toner onto a recording sheet with the use of toner fixing liquid including a softening agent for softening toner. The fixing device includes a sprayer configured to spray the toner fixing liquid as liquid droplets and an electrode configured to apply an electric charge to the sprayed liquid droplets. The sprayer sprays the liquid droplets onto the unfixed toner placed on the recording sheet. The electrode applies, to the sprayed liquid droplets, an electric charge of an electric charge polarity opposite to that of the unfixed toner.

Abstract: To provide a highly sensitive and highly durable electrophotographic photoconductor, electrophotography, photographic apparatus and process cartridge for the electrophotographic apparatus which is practical for a high-speed copying machine as well as for a laser printer. The electrophotographic photoconductor includes a photoconductive layer on a conductive support, in which the photoconductive layer contains an azo compound expressed by Formula (1) and wherein at least one of “Cp1” and “Cp2” contains a coupler residue selected from Formula (2), Formula (3) and Formula (4).

Abstract: To provide a highly sensitive and highly durable electrophotographic photoconductor, electrophotography, photographic apparatus and process cartridge for the electrophotographic apparatus which is practical for a high-speed copying machine as well as for a laser printer. The electrophotographic photoconductor includes a photoconductive layer on a conductive support, in which the photoconductive layer contains an azo compound expressed by Formula (1) and wherein at least one of “Cp1” and “Cp2” contains a coupler residue selected from Formula (2), Formula (3) and Formula (4).