Abstract: There is provided a brilliant toner containing a toner particle containing a binder resin, and flat-shaped brilliant pigments, wherein the number of the brilliant pigment contained is from 3.5 to 15 and the plurality of brilliant pigments are oriented mutually in the same direction, and an electrostatic image developer containing the brilliant toner and a carrier, and a toner cartridge storing the brilliant toner, which is able to be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided with toner including one or more kinds of brilliant pigments, and one or more kinds of coloring matters. There are also provided with a toner cartridge including the toner, a developing unit including a storing portion that stores the toner, and an image forming apparatus including a storing portion that stores the toner.

Abstract: To provide a charge control agent and a toner having a superior charging characteristic. A charge control agent containing a bis-phthalimide derivative represented by formula. Thus, it is possible to provide a safe, negative chargeability charge control agent with which the rate of rise of the charge can be increased, and which has a high charging amount and poses no problem in terms of waste regulations. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a negatively chargeable toner (and particularly, a negatively chargeable polymerized toner) for electrostatic image development which uses this charging control agent and has a superior charging characteristic.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrostatic ink composition comprising: a liquid carrier, and particles dispersed in the liquid carrier, wherein the particles comprise a resin and a substantially spherical silver pigment; wherein the substantially spherical silver pigment constitutes at least 30 wt % of the solids of the electrostatic ink composition. Print substrates are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method of making a liquid electrophotographic (LEP) paste is disclosed herein. A base paste is made by forming a dispersion of a pigment and a non-polar carrier, adding a transparent resin dispersion to the pigment dispersion to form a dispersion mixture, and homogenizing the dispersion mixture. The transparent resin dispersion includes a polymer dispersed in a non-aqueous carrier. The homogenizing may be accomplished by agitating the dispersion mixture at a frequency of less than 1 kHz, thereby forming the paste.

Abstract: Techniques for liquid electrography printing are described herein. In at least some examples herein, a liquid electrographic printer includes a charging element for charging a photo imaging plate (PIP). A light source irradiates light onto the charge element. The irradiated light is to heat the charge element to a selected temperature.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: a light source configured to emit a light beam; and a rotary polygon mirror configured to deflect the light beam emitted from the light source so that the light beam scans a surface of a photosensitive member, wherein the rotary polygon mirror is formed in a four-sided polygon, and wherein a difference between a pair of diametrically opposed interior angles of the rotary polygon mirror is larger than 0.03°, and a difference between another pair of diametrically opposed interior angles of the rotary polygon mirror is 0.03° or less.

Abstract: A laser holder includes a bridge portion connected to a holding portion via two projecting portions so as to bridge the two projecting portions, and the bridge portion includes a contacting portion configured to come into contact with the optical box by being pressed against an optical box by a screw head of a second fixing screw.

Abstract: An example is a lens mirror array in which a plurality of optical elements, which comprises a first lens surface formed at the top of convex portion protruding outwards for converging light, a protrusion which includes a first mirror surface that reflects the light emitted from the first lens surface at the top and a light-shielding surface that has side walls at two sides thereof with respect to a light advancing direction and prevents advance of the light through the side walls, a second mirror surface that reflects the light reflected by the first mirror surface of the protrusion and a second lens surface that images the light emitted from the second mirror surface on an image plane, is arranged in a horizontal scanning direction.

Abstract: An example is a lens mirror array in which many optical elements, each of which comprises a first lens surface that is formed at the top of convex portion protruding outwards and converges light, a protrusion that includes a first mirror surface which reflects the light emitted from the first lens surface at the top and a light-shielding surface that has side walls at two sides thereof with respect to a light advancing direction and prevents advance of the light through the side walls, a second mirror surface that reflects the light reflected by the first mirror surface of the protrusion and a second lens surface that images the light emitted from the second mirror surface on an image plane, is arranged in a horizontal scanning direction; by comparing both ends in the horizontal scanning direction with the center in the horizontal scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a conversion unit configured to convert image data based on a conversion condition which corresponds to a type of halftone processing; an image processing unit configured to execute the halftone processing to the image data converted by the conversion unit; wherein the halftone processing includes first halftoning and second halftoning which is different from the first halftoning, a photoreceptor; an exposure unit configured to expose the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image an image forming unit including a photoreceptor, an exposure unit configured to expose, based on the image data that executed the halftone processing by the image processing unit, the photoreceptor with light to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A gear unit includes a bearing configured to rotatably support a developer bearing member for developing an electrostatic image, a developing gear configured to include an engaging portion that engages with a shaft of the developer bearing member, at least one drive transmission gear configured to be engaged with the developing gear in such a manner that drive force is transmitted between the gears, and a cover member configured to be attached to the bearing so as to sandwich the developing gear between the bearing and the cover member, wherein the cover member supports the developing gear until the developing gear is engaged with the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A developer container according to the invention includes a developer containing unit, a partition member, and a moving restricting member. The developer containing unit has a developer containing chamber for containing an unused developing agent and a waste developer containing chamber for containing a waste developing agent. The partition member partitions the developer containing chamber and the waste developer containing chamber. The moving restricting member permits the partition member moving from a side of the waste developer containing chamber to a side of the developer containing chamber and restricts the partition member moving from the side of the developer containing chamber to the side of the waste developer containing chamber.

Abstract: In a developing device in which initial developer is sealed in and a developer discharge mechanism (a trickle mechanism, or an ACR mechanism) is provided, the driving-torque load generated in the developing device is suppressed, regardless of the state of distribution of the developer that is sealed in the developing device. The order of releasing seals provided over openings is defined as follows. First, a seal provided on the downstream side of a stirring chamber starts to be released. Then, a seal provided over a discharge port is released. Lastly, a seal provided on the upstream side of the stirring chamber starts to be released.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member, a first chamber, a second chamber, a first feeding member, and a second feeding member. The second feeding member includes first to third spiral portions and a disk portion. The disk portion includes a projected portion. When the disk portion is seen in an axial direction of the second feeding member, on the basis of a line connecting a rotation center of the disk portion and an upstream end portion of the third spiral portion with respect to a feeding direction of the third spiral portion, the projected portion is provided within a range from a position deviated by 90 degrees toward a downstream side with respect to a rotational direction of the disk portion to a position deviated by 30 degrees toward an upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the disk portion.

Abstract: A developer replenishing apparatus includes a developer housing container and a sensor. The developer housing container includes a container main body having a wall that partitions an internal space, a shaft section arranged so as to extend in a first direction in the internal space, a moving wall which moves from an upstream side to a downstream side in the first direction along the shaft section and which conveys the developer, and a developer discharge port which is arranged near a downstream end in the first direction of the container main body. The sensor is arranged at a position that enables the sensor to generate different outputs between before and after the moving wall reaches a prescribed position on a movement route. The determining unit determines a state where there is no developer in the developer housing container when the sensor generates an output determined in advance.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming unit that includes: a container configured to contain therein a developer that includes a toner and a magnetic carrier; a developer supporting member including a first magnetic member, and configured to support the developer; and an image supporting member including a magnetic conductive member and a photosensitive layer, and disposed to face the developer supporting member. The magnetic conductive member includes a magnetic material, and the photosensitive layer covers the magnetic conductive member and is configured to support a latent image on a surface of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a carrier in which decrease in specific gravity is achieved and a volatile organic compound (VOC) is reduced and to provide an electrophotographic developer using the carrier. There is provided a carrier including a core material coated with a resin, the core material including a magnetic component and a nonmagnetic component, wherein the sum total of volatile organic compounds is 1 ppb or more and 1.5 ppm or less. There is also provided an electrophotographic developer using the carrier.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic ink developer comprises a developer roller (112) rotatable about an axis, first and second electrodes (108, 110) proximate the developer roller (112) and an inlet chamber (100) extending along the axis from a first end adjacent an inlet opening (122) to a second end opposite the first end. A neck (104) forms an uninterrupted ink flow path from the inlet chamber (100) to the developer roller (112).

Abstract: An image used for alignment of an image to be thermally transferred to a transfer target medium is transferred and fixed to a release sheet. Subsequently, the release sheet is sent to a two-sided printing conveyance unit and the front and back sides of the release sheet are reversed. Then, a mirror image of the image to be thermally transferred to the transfer target medium and a thermoplastic resin image overlaid on the mirror image are transferred and fixed to the release sheet. As a result, a thermal transfer print sheet including the release sheet, an alignment image layer, a mirror image layer, and a transfer base material layer is created.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a removal member that forms piled bodies of residual objects at a contact location and removes residual objects from a surface of a target cleaning member by contacting with the surface in a linear manner and rubbing against the surface, and a smoothing member that smooths out the piled bodies by moving along the contact location.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes an upstream cleaner, an upstream cleaner, and a collection member. The upstream cleaner is configured to remove toner from a surface of a cleaning target. The downstream cleaner is disposed downstream from the upstream cleaner in a direction of movement of the surface of the cleaning target. The downstream cleaner is configured to remove toner from the surface of the cleaning target. The collection member is configured to collect toner from the downstream cleaner.

Abstract: A belt unit including a steering mechanism employing a belt auto alignment method includes a restricting portion configured to enable a steering roller to rotate about a steering axis line for correcting the deviation of the position of the belt in the width-wise direction, while restricting the inclination of the steering roller due to the rotation.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a belt image bearer; a driving roller that rotates the belt image bearer; a transfer member; first and second driving motors that respectively rotate the driving roller and the transfer member; first and second speed detecting units that respectively detect rotational speeds of the belt image bearer and the transfer member; and a control unit that implements control such that the belt image bearer and the transfer member are rotated at rotational speeds corresponding to a relative speed at which a variation amount is less than a predetermined variation amount, the variation amount being the variation of values of driving torques of the first and second driving motors in a state where the belt image bearer and the transfer member are in contact, with respect to these values in a state where the belt image bearer and the transfer member are separated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a slider movable from a first position to a second position against a spring force for urging a primary transfer roller to an intermediary transfer belt to space the primary transfer roller from the intermediary transfer belt. An assisting mechanism assists the movement of the slider in a first direction. The assisting mechanism includes vertical and horizontal sliders which cause to apply the urging force of a compression spring to the slider as an urging force in the first direction, from a third position which is between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus, which includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, charging devices that contact and charge respective photosensitive drums, developing devices that attach toner including a metal particle, which is a polishing particle, and develop latent images, and cleaning devices that remove remaining toner from surfaces of the photosensitive drums and allows toner images of each color formed on the photosensitive drums to be sequentially superposed on an intermediate transfer belt to form a color image, has a primary transfer bias control unit that switches polarity of primary transfer bias, except for a time of image formation on the photosensitive drums, to polarity equal to or opposite to electrostatic charge of toner in response to an average printing rate of each color of a predetermined number of immediately previous papers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image carrier; an image forming unit configured to form, on the latent image carrier, a toner image using a developer including a toner and a lubricating external additive charged with an opposite polarity to a charge polarity of the toner; a transfer device configured to electrostatically transfer, at a transfer position, the toner image formed by the image forming unit to a transfer medium; and a cleaning device configured to remove the toner remaining on the latent image carrier after passing the transfer position. The transfer device is configured to control a transfer voltage applied at the transfer position, based on an area ratio of an image to be printed.

Abstract: A printing device includes a recording-medium-type reader that reads a type of a recording medium, a fixing-unit attachment that selectively attaches any one of a plurality of fixing units, the plurality of fixing units being different types from one another, and a conformity determiner that determines whether or not the type of the fixing unit attached in the fixing-unit attachment is conformed to the type of the recording medium read by the recording-medium-type reader.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, upon receipt of an image formation request, controls execution of a second preparatory operation that needs to be performed so that the image forming unit is capable of performing image formation and, independently of the image formation request, controls execution of a first preparatory operation for preparation for the image forming unit before the second preparatory operation. The first and second preparatory operations are accompanied by driving of a photosensitive body. Further, the image forming apparatus, when the image formation request is received by the reception unit before completion of the first preparatory operation, determines whether the second preparatory operation is to be performed after the first preparatory operation without stopping driving of the photosensitive body or after the first preparatory operation by stopping driving of the photosensitive body, in accordance with content of image formation performed in response to the image formation request.

Abstract: A silicone rubber-fluororesin laminate comprising a substrate, and a vulcanized silicone rubber layer and a fluororesin layer that are sequentially formed on the substrate; wherein the fluororesin layer is formed after an epoxy resin-containing silane based primer layer and a fluororesin based primer layer are sequentially formed on the vulcanized silicone rubber layer, and the epoxy resin-containing silane based primer layer contains 30 to 80 wt % of an epoxy resin and 70 to 20 wt % of a silane coupling agent. The silicone rubber-fluororesin laminate does not cause a reduction not only in the initial adhesion, but also in the adhesion between the vulcanized silicone rubber and the fluororesin even in a heated environment, such as a hot state or long-term heating.

Abstract: This image forming apparatus (100) includes a housing portion (12), an image carrier (70) mounted on the housing portion, a light source portion (79) that applies light to the image carrier, and a light source fixing member in which a first restriction portion (132), a second restriction portion (133), and a third restriction portion (134) that restrict the movement of the light source portion in a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction, respectively, with respect to the housing portion are integrally provided, that fixes the light source portion to the housing portion.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heater for heating and fixing a toner image formed on a recording material; a thermosensitive element for sensing heat from the heater; and a tension spring for urging thermosensitive element toward the heater.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member forming a nip therebetween for heating a toner image on a recording material; a rubbing rotatable member for rubbing a surface of the first rotatable member; and a cleaning brush for cleaning a surface of the rubbing rotatable member, the cleaning brush comprising fibers having diameters not more than an average intervals Sm of pits and projections of the surface of the rubbing rotatable member.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus which fixes a toner image on a recording material, includes a tubular film; a heater disposed in contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor formed on the substrate; a contact member disposed in contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface of the heater in contact with the film, a coefficient of linear expansion of the contact member being larger than that of the substrate; and a support member configured to support the heater, the support member sandwiching the contact member with the heater, wherein a lubricant is applied in at least a longitudinal end portion of a contact region between the heater and the contact member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit that heats an unfixed image on a recording medium, which is deformed by heating, and hence fixes the unfixed image; and a transport member that closely contacts a no-image surface of the recording medium and transports the recording medium while causing a close contact force to act on the recording medium against a deformation force, which is generated at the recording medium by the heating of the heating unit. The close contact force of the recording medium with respect to the transport member is larger than the deformation force generated at the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes a forming device that forms unfixed images on recording media, a fixing unit that melts a material forming the images to fix the images onto the recording media, a stacking tray on which the recording media onto which the images are fixed are stacked, and a displacer that applies a force to the recording media stacked on the stacking tray to displace the recording media relative to each other.

Abstract: A heater control device includes a power factor correction circuit configured to convert an alternate current voltage from a commercial power source to a direct current voltage; an inverter configured to generate a specific alternate current voltage from the direct current voltage converted with the power factor correction circuit; a heater configured to receive the specific alternate current voltage generated with the inverter; and an excessive temperature rise preventing portion configured to interrupt the specific alternate current voltage generated with the inverter from being supplied to the heater.

Abstract: A heater control device includes a first voltage conversion part that generates a first voltage based on an external input voltage, a second voltage conversion part that generates a second voltage for supplying power to heater(s) based on the first voltage, a third voltage conversion part that generates a third voltage used at least in driving the heater(s) based on the first voltage, a capacitative element electrically connected to a path that connects the first voltage conversion part to the second voltage conversion part and connects the first voltage conversion part to the third voltage conversion part. The capacitative element is located in a section of the path used for connecting both to the second and to third voltage conversion part, and a control part that performs an operation stop control to stop the operation of at least one heater(s) if the external input voltage has dropped below a first threshold voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes, a fixing roller including a heat generation source, supplying heat to a printing object, and fixing toner on the printing object, an opposing roller opposed to the fixing roller to hold the printing object between the opposing roller and the fixing roller, a heat exchange roller containing a heat storage material capable of changing in between a liquid and a solid phase, a sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the fixing roller; and a driving unit causing the heat exchange roller to abut against the fixing roller and separating the heat exchange roller from the fixing roller, in accordance with the temperature of the fixing roller sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heat source, a pressing member, a temperature sensor and a controller. A detected region whose temperature is detected by the temperature sensor is formed in the fixing belt, and an elastic layer of the detected region is provided with a hole in a part thereof in a circumferential direction. The controller judges that the fixing belt is rotating in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature sensor alternately increases and decreases in a state that the heat source is heating the fixing belt, and judges that the fixing belt is not rotating in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature sensor does not alternately increase and decrease in the state that the heat source is heating the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image, formed on a recording material, on the recording material, wherein the fixing portion includes a heater for generating heat by electric power supplied from a commercial power source; a power source portion for supplying the electric power to a load except the heater, wherein the power source and the heater are connected with the commercial power source in parallel; a suppliable electric power calculating portion for calculating suppliable electric power suppliable to the heater; and a temperature setting portion for setting, depending on the suppliable electric power calculated by the calculating portion, a control target temperature of the fixing portion in an operation in a stand-by mode in which the image forming apparatus awaits a print instruction.

Abstract: Provided is a heating body that heats a target heating body that is in contact with an outer periphery thereof, and that is formed in a tubular shape, the heating body including a support body, and a heat-emitting body that is supported by the support body, absorbs light that is transmitted by the support body, and emits heat.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating element; a supporting member; a high heat-conductive member. The recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member has a bottom region, where the supporting member supports the heater, including a first region where the supporting member contacts the high heat-conductive member so as to apply pressure between the heater and the high heat-conductive member and including a second region where the supporting member is recessed from the high heat-conductive member relative to the first region. At least a part of the first region overlaps, with respect to a movement direction of the recording material, with a region where the heat generating element is provided.

Abstract: A fixing device according to one aspect of the disclosure includes a heat source, a fixing member, and a pressure member. The heat source generates infrared. The fixing member is heated from an inner circumferential surface side by the heat source. The pressure member forms a nip area in pressure contact with the fixing member. The nip area sandwiches a recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image between the fixing member and the pressure member. The nip area fuses the unfixed toner image to the recording medium. The fixing member has an inner circumferential surface, and the inner circumferential surface forms a heat absorbing portion that absorbs the infrared generated from the heat source. The heat absorbing portion is a polycondensate whose starting materials are silica and monosilane compounds. The heat absorbing portion has a fired film made of an organic-inorganic hybrid coating using an alcohol solution as a solvent.

Abstract: In the present invention, an image forming apparatus, when executing a preparation operation to set a state enabling an image forming operation independently from a request to start image formation, determines, as an operation mode, a color mode for executing preparation operations of all image forming units corresponding to each color of developer, or a monochrome mode for executing a preparation operation of only an image forming unit corresponding to a single color of developer in accordance with warning information indicating a state of the image forming apparatus, and executing a preparation operation in the determined operation mode.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, an image capturing unit that captures an image of a user who forms the image, and a control unit that causes the image capturing unit to capture an image in a preset monitoring region when the user does not capture an image using the image capturing unit.

Abstract: A printing device includes an image former performing an image formation on a recording medium in a rolled shape, and including a first roller pair that rotates to convey the recording medium in the rolled shape, and, a supplier including a second roller pair that rotates to convey the wound-off recording medium in the rolled shape to the image former, and a controller that actively rotates the second roller pair. The image former includes a determiner that determines whether or not the first roller pair that conveys the recording medium in the rolled shape conveyed from the second roller pair has held the recording medium in the rolled shape. When the determiner determines that the recording medium in the rolled shape has been held, the controller stops the active rotation of the second roller pair.

Abstract: A rotation force transmission mechanism (30) includes a torque limiter (50), a breaking member (60) and a clutch member (55). The torque limiter (50) is configured to couple the first rotating member (35) and the driving source (40) to each other so as to able to transmit the rotation force until a torque of a predetermined value is applied, and to decouple from each other if a torque larger than the predetermined value is applied. The braking member (60) is configured to apply a torque exceeding the predetermined value to the first rotating member (35). The clutch member (55) is capable of being switched into a transmission state in which the rotation force can be transmitted to the first rotating member (35) and an interruption state in which the transmission of the rotation force is interrupted, in the second rotation force transmission path (P2).

Abstract: A printing device includes a first ejector that ejects a recording medium to an exterior, a second ejector that enhances a rigidity of the recording medium more than by the first ejector, and ejects the recording medium to the exterior, and an ejector selector that selects either the first ejector or the second ejector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner-image-forming device that forms a toner image on a recording material with a toner having a volume-mean particle size of about 6 ?m or smaller; and a fixing device that includes a fixing member that fixes the toner image, a pressing member that applies pressure to the toner image, and a heating member that heats the fixing member. The pressing member applies a first pressure to the toner image while the recording material carrying the toner image passes through a pressing portion by taking a first passing time period in a first state. The pressing member applies a second pressure lower than the first pressure to the toner image while the recording material carrying the toner image passes through the pressing portion by taking a second passing time period longer than the first passing time period in a second state.