Abstract: A printing system utilizing inks with high solids content includes a mixing unit for receiving a high solids content ink and producing a concentrated ink and an interim tank for receiving the concentrated ink from the mixing unit. An ink tank receives the concentrated ink from the interim tank and produces printing ink. An liquid electro-photographic print engine receives the printing ink from the ink tank. A fluid return line is connected between the mixing unit and at least one of the interim tank and the ink tank, the mixing unit receiving fluid from at least one of the interim tank and the ink tank and mixing the fluid with the high solids content ink. A method for liquid electro photographic printing using high solid content ink is also provided.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a photoconductive member of a liquid electrophotography printing apparatus (LEP) is disclosed. The method includes storing a fluid having at least fluid particles and a carrier liquid in a fluid chamber and removing at least a portion of the fluid particles and the dissolved materials from the fluid through adsorption by filtration material disposed within a filtration assembly to form a filtered fluid. The method also includes maintaining the photoconductive member by periodically applying the filtered fluid to the photoconductive member and removing the filtered fluid and fluid residue therefrom.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic latent image holding member, a charging device, a latent image forming device, a developing device that stores a liquid developer containing a toner and a non-volatile carrier liquid, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member by the liquid developer to form a toner image, a transfer device that transfers the toner image onto a surface of an impermeable recording medium, and a fixing device, wherein when the SP value of the toner is set as SP(t), the SP value of the non-volatile carrier liquid is set as SP(c), and the SP value of the recording medium is set as SP(m), an absolute value of a difference between SP(t) and SP(c) is from 1.5 to 7.0 and the following relational expression (A) is satisfied: |SP(c)?SP(m)|>|SP(t)?SP(m)|.

Abstract: The present wet-type developing device includes: a developer carrier for carrying a wet-type developer, which contains a charged toner particle and carrier liquid, and supplying the wet-type developer to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a charge neutralizing unit for neutralizing a charge of the toner particle contained in the wet-type developer remaining on the developer carrier after supplying the wet-type developer to the image carrier; a dispersing unit for dispersing the toner particle in the carrier liquid by acting on the toner particle contained in the wet-type developer neutralized in charge by the charge neutralizing unit; and a removing unit for removing, from the developer carrier, the wet-type developer containing the toner particle dispersed by the dispersing unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for electrostatic printing, wherein the method comprises (a) providing an ink composition comprising particles comprising a resin, wherein the ink composition contains less than 0.3 mg of charge director per g of solids in the ink composition; (b) passing the ink composition between a first electrode and a developer roller, wherein sufficient potential is applied between the developer roller and the electrode such that the resin particles are charged and adhere to the developer roller; (c) transferring at least some of the particles from the developer roller to a photoimaging plate to form an image on the photoimaging plate; and (d) transferring the image from the photoimaging plate to a print medium. Also disclosed here is an apparatus for carrying out the method, and a print medium printed using the method.

Abstract: A toner includes a crystalline polyester resin having an unsaturated double bond, a thiol compound having a bi- or more-functional thiol group, and a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: An electrostatic image developer includes a toner containing an external additive having a volume-average particle size of about 80 to 400 nm and an average circularity of about 0.7 to 0.85. The developer is used in an image forming apparatus including an image-carrying member having a top surface layer containing fluorocarbon resin particles, and a developer-carrying member that faces the image-carrying member and carries an electrostatic image developer, in which a value obtained by dividing the amount of developer on the developer-carrying member [g/m2] by a shortest distance between the image-carrying member and the developer-carrying member [?m] is about 0.8 to 1.8, and a peripheral velocity ratio of the developer-carrying member to the image-carrying member is about 1.5 to 5.0 or the developer-carrying member moves in a direction opposite to the image-carrying member in a facing portion.

Abstract: Liquid electrophotography apparatus including a plurality of members defining a flow path for a printing liquid. At least a first member of the plurality of members is arranged to generate an electric field. The liquid electrophotography apparatus also includes a first insulation layer arranged around at least a portion of a surface of the first member to prevent electrical discharge from the printing liquid.

Abstract: In a method or system for printing of a recording medium, potential images of images to be printed are generated on a potential image carrier. The potential images are developed into an image film comprising image regions and non-image regions on the potential image carrier via application of a liquid developer comprising a polymerizable carrier fluid with dye particles suspended therein. The image film is transferred onto the recording medium. The image film is fixed on the recording medium via a cross-linking reaction of the carrier fluid such that the dye particles of the image regions are embedded in a fixed polymer matrix and the carrier fluid hardens into a transparent film that permanently bonds with the recording medium. The cross-linking reaction of the carrier fluid is started, accelerated, or extended by at least one component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging unit, an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit that contains a liquid developer containing a toner and a carrier solution and that develops an electrostatic latent image with the liquid developer to form a toner image on the surface of the image carrier, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit that includes at least one pair of first and second rotating members that form a nip between the first and second rotating members. The following condition (A) is satisfied: the amount of the carrier solution on the surface of the toner image is about 0.7 g/m2 or less during passing of the recording medium through the nip of the most-downstream pair of the at least one rotating-member pair in the leading direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid electrophotographic ink comprising a carrier liquid, a pigmented resin composite dispersed in the carrier liquid, and about 0.15 to about 10% (w/w) of an organic wax. The liquid electrophotographic ink is typically formulated for printing in a liquid electrophotographic printer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for concentrating an ink composition, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an ink composition, the ink composition comprising a liquid carrier and particles comprising a resin and a colorant, and wherein the ink composition contains less than 0.

Abstract: A liquid developing device includes a developer accommodating section that accommodates a liquid developer containing a toner and a carrier liquid and having a toner concentration of from 23 to 27 vol %; a developing member to which the liquid developer accommodated in the developer accommodating section is supplied to a surface thereof to form a liquid developer layer with a thickness of from 5.8 to 7.5 ?m, of which a toner coverage is from 0.71 to 1.1, and the liquid developer layer thus formed is supplied to a surface of an image holding member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding member to thus form a toner image; and a developer charging unit that charges the liquid developer layer before the liquid developer layer is supplied to the surface of the image holding member.

Abstract: In a method to operate a digital printer having multiple developer stations operated with liquid developer, and wherein a number of the developer stations participating in printing is dependent on a respective print operating mode, liquid developer is supplied from a mixing container to at least one of the developer stations. With a regulatory device a fill level of liquid developer in the mixing container is kept substantially constant depending on the print operating mode. A desired different operating value is provided for the fill level for the regulatory device depending on the operating mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing member that, while rotating, supplies a liquid developer to an image carrier and develops a latent image formed on the image carrier using the liquid developer, a layer-forming device that forms a developer layer, which is a layer formed from the liquid developer, on the developing member, a charging device that charges the developer layer formed on the developing member by the layer-forming device, the charging device being located upstream of the image carrier in a direction of rotation of the developing member, and a heating device that heats the developer layer formed on the developing member by the layer-forming device. The heating device is located upstream of the charging device and downstream of the layer-forming device in the direction of rotation of the developing member.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a liquid electrophotographic (LEP) ink comprising a carrier fluid, a pigment, a high melt viscosity ethylene acrylic acid copolymer resin, and a high acid ethylene acrylic acid copolymer resin. The high acid ethylene acrylic acid copolymer resin can have an acid content of at least 15 wt % and a viscosity of at least 8,000 poise. Additionally, the LEP ink can have a total resin acidity of at least 15 wt % and a total resin melt viscosity of at least 20,000 poise.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive member to move in a rotational direction, a charging unit to charge the photoconductive member, a discharging unit to discharge a portion of the photoconductive member to form a latent image thereon, and a plurality of ink applicator units to sequentially apply a plurality of ink layers, respectively, toward the latent image to form an ink image. The image forming apparatus may also include an image transfer blanket to receive the ink image including the plurality of ink layers from the photoconductive member.

Abstract: An attachable/detachable body includes a main body, a positioned portion, a transmitted member a contacting portion. The main body of the attachable/detachable body is supported to be attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. The positioned portion is positioned at a positioning portion provided at the main body of the image forming apparatus. The transmitted member is connected to a transmission member provided at the main body of the image forming apparatus to transmit a drive thereto, the transmitted member transmitting the drive to a driven member provided at the main body of the attachable/detachable body. The contacting portion comes into contact with a contacted portion that is provided at the main body of the image forming apparatus to be connected electrically thereto.

Abstract: A wet-type image forming apparatus forms a toner image on an image carrier using liquid developer containing carrier liquid and toner dispersed therein. The apparatus includes: a developing member carrying the liquid developer to develop a latent image thereby forming the toner image on the image carrier; a charger for charging the liquid developer on the developing member according to a current applied on the charger; a measuring member for measuring a potential of the liquid developer charged by the charger; and a controller for controlling an amount of the liquid developer on the developing member, before the toner image is formed on the image carrier, by setting plural values of the current to be applied on the charger and controlling the amount of the liquid developer based on results of measurement of potentials of the liquid developer charged by the charger with the plural values of the applied current.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes a toner in which a compound having a charge-accepting functional group has been bonded to a surface of toner particles, and a carrier liquid which makes a charge density of a surface of the toner become 1 ?C/m2 or less when the toner is dispersed in the carrier liquid.

Abstract: In order to prevent the occurrence of bleeding in a nip between a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer body or a nip between the photoreceptor and a sheet, which is a problem in a wet developing method, the present disclosure provides a liquid developer that includes an electrically insulating carrier liquid and colored particles dispersed within the carrier liquid, further contains an organic polymer compound, and has a viscosity of 30 to 400 mPa·s at a measurement temperature of 25° C.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for compositions, methods, and systems directed towards a liquid electrophotographic ink comprising a carrier fluid, a pigment, a first resin, and a stable cross-linkable resin that is solvated or swellable with the carrier fluid, where the stable cross-linkable resin does not undergo cross-linking until a temperature of at least 110° C. and, once cross-linked, does not melt until a temperature of at least 300° C.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes a toner that contains a binder resin and a release agent, and a carrier liquid that has a difference (?SP (tc)) in SP value from the binder resin of from 1.5 to 7.0, wherein the release agent is not eluted in the carrier liquid at a temperature lower than a glass transition temperature of the binder resin.

Abstract: A toner includes a crystalline polyester resin having an unsaturated double bond, a thiol compound having a bi- or more-functional thiol group, and a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: A developer flows ink from the ink inlet chamber along a first side of a first electrode, through a gap between the first electrode and a developer roller and back to the inlet chamber.

Abstract: A system comprises an electrophotographic subsystem, a transfer subsystem, an imaging member, and an inking subsystem. The electrophotographic subsystem comprises a photoreceptor, a charging subsystem, an exposure subsystem, and a development subsystem. In operation, the photoreceptor is charged areawise. An exposure pattern is formed by the exposure subsystem on the surface of the charged photoreceptor to thereby write a latent charge image onto the photoreceptor surface. The image is developed with an image defining material, such as a dampening fluid. The image defining material forms a negative pattern of the image to be printed. This negative image is then transferred to the reimageable surface. The negative image is then developed with ink. The inked image may be transferred to a substrate.

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 1×10 to 1×103, 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: 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: A wet-type development device includes a draw-up roller and a conveyance roller rotating in contact with each other's surface, and a developer regulating member arranged facing to and keeping a distance from a nip section formed between the draw-up roller and the conveyance roller at the contact surface. The developer regulating member forms a storage space for storing developer to be supplied toward the nip section, on the upstream side of the nip section. The fluid level of developer in the vertical direction in the storage space is higher than the nip section when the developer is being supplied to the nip section.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image application unit for use with liquid toner, suitable for transferring an image to a drum rotating around a vertical axis or a printing substrate guided by such a drum. The image application unit includes: a liquid toner dosing assembly; an imaging member sustaining a pattern of electric charge forming a latent image on its surface, and arranged to transfer it after development to said drum or said substrate; and a development member arranged to receive liquid toner from the dosing assembly, and to develop the latent image by transferring a portion of the liquid toner onto the imaging member in accordance with the pattern. The liquid toner dosing assembly is adapted for vertical use and the development member and the imaging member are configured for rotation around vertical axes.

Abstract: A method for monitoring development parameters of a liquid toner electrophotographic (LEP) printer, the method comprising defining an operational window for a current utilized by the printer and monitoring the current to determine a deviation of the current outside the operational window.

Abstract: An apparatus to receive a developer roller for a printing device. The apparatus comprises a base assembly including end caps at opposing ends. The base assembly includes a receptacle for a developer roller having rotary bearings. Each end cap includes first and second datum pins and a clamp containing a spring member. Each clamp, when locked in place in part by action of the spring member, is to push against a corresponding rotary bearing when the developer roller is installed in the base assembly. The rotary bearing being forced by the clamp into contact with the first and second datum pins to position the developer roller in the base assembly.

Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring conductivity of ink in a printing system are disclosed. An embodiment of the method is used with a printing system having a developer roller, wherein the ink is formed on the developer roller using electrostatic forces and is used to print on a substrate. A first current charges the developer roller during the printing. The first current is measured and the conductivity of the ink is determined, wherein the conductivity is proportional to the square of the first current.

Abstract: In a method or apparatus to optimize transfer of a developer fluid having toner embedded in a carrier fluid in an electrophoretic printing apparatus, charge images of print images are generated on an intermediate image carrier. The print images are inked into toner images by means of a developer station with the developer fluid. The toner images are transfer printed onto a printing substrate in a transfer printing zone by a transfer unit. The toner embedded in the carrier fluid is thus transported from the developer station to the intermediate image carrier in a first transport path segment and from the transfer unit to the printing substrate in a second transport path segment. A temperature acting on the carrier fluid in the first transport path segment is above a melting point of the carrier fluid, and a temperature acting on the carrier fluid in the second transport path segment is below the melting point of the carrier fluid.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulating carrier liquid, colored particles, an organic macromolecular compound, and a dispersant. The organic macromolecular compound is dissolved in the carrier liquid. The organic macromolecular compound is formed of a copolymer resin selected from cyclic olefin copolymers and styrene-based elastomers. The colored particles are dispersed in the carrier liquid. Each of the colored particles includes a binder resin and carbon black. A mass ratio (V/OP) of a content (V) of the dispersant in the liquid developer to a content (OP) of the organic macromolecular compound in the liquid developer is 0.2 or larger and 0.8 or smaller.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a photoconductive member of a liquid electrophotography printing apparatus (LEP) is disclosed. The method includes storing a fluid having at least fluid particles and a carrier liquid in a fluid chamber and removing at least a portion of the fluid particles and the dissolved materials from the fluid through adsorption by filtration material disposed within a filtration assembly to form a filtered fluid. The method also includes maintaining the photoconductive member by periodically applying the filtered fluid to the photoconductive member and removing the filtered fluid and fluid residue therefrom.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes; a cleaning member that collects liquid developer by cleaning a developer carrier; a first transporting path that moves the liquid developer collected by the cleaning member; an oscillating member that applies vibration to the liquid developer transported from the first transporting path; a developer supply unit that stores the liquid developer transported from a first transporting mechanism; a second transporting mechanism that includes a second transporting path that transports the liquid developer stored in the developer supply unit to a developer storage in a developing unit; and a control unit that adjusts a toner charge current applied to the toner charging unit and controls vibration applied to the oscillating member on the basis of the adjusted toner charge current.

Abstract: Techniques for coating print media are described herein. In an example, a photo imaging assembly is to receive a liquid electrophoretic coating composition assembly on a chargeable surface so as to form a coating layer thereon using electrostatic forces. The coating layer is to be transferred to a print medium.

Abstract: A liquid developer contains toner, a carrier liquid in which the toner are dispersed, and a graft copolymer of an acrylic polymer and a polysiloxane.

Abstract: A development device includes a developing section to visualize a latent image formed on a latent image carrier with developer including toner and carrier. The development device has a developer supply opening and a developer collection opening, a circulation unit to transport the developer collected from the developer collection opening of the developing section to the developer supply opening of the developing section and including a developer container to store the developer collected from the developing section disposed upstream from the development section in a direction in which the developer is circulated, and a developer cooler to cool the developer contained in the developer container.

Abstract: A wet type developing apparatus is disclosed which can eliminate the need to provide a separately built cleansing unit and, moreover, makes it unnecessary to dismount a developer supply unit for its cleansing operation and to perform its subsequent re-mounting operation. The apparatus in which a developing roller 2 is in rotational contact with a rotating photoconductor drum 1 and an electrostatic latent image made on a surface of the photoconductor drum is developed with a liquid developer 6 supplied onto the developing roller from a developer supply roller 3 whose surface is in part immersed in the liquid developer reserved in a developer reservoir 5, includes a cleansing arrangement, comprising a unit or units 7 and/or 8, which is disposed at a site in the developer reservoir which is always immersed in the liquid developer for cleansing a portion of the developer supply roller which is immersed in the liquid developer.

Abstract: A slit nozzle is moved by a nozzle lifting/lowering mechanism and a nozzle sliding mechanism relative to substrates held in a substantially horizontal attitude by spin chucks. A development liquid is discharged on each substrate from a discharge port of the slit nozzle such that development processing for the substrate is performed. After the development liquid is discharged, the slit nozzle is moved to a waiting position excluding positions over the substrates held by the spin chucks. In waiting pods provided at the waiting positions, cleaning processing for the slit nozzle is performed by a cleaning liquid with gas bubbles mixed therein.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member (34) (ITM) transfers a toner image from an image bearing surface to a substrate. The ITM has an outermost surface having a roughness of less than or equal to about 300 Angstroms root-mean-square (RMS). An imaging liquid developer system (22) sequentially deposits differently colored layers of pigment containing material onto the outermost surface, wherein at least one of the layers has a final film thickness of less than or equal to 1 ?m at 100 percent coverage.

Abstract: A printing system utilizing inks with high solids content includes a mixing unit for receiving a high solids content ink and producing a concentrated ink and an interim tank for receiving the concentrated ink from the mixing unit. An ink tank receives the concentrated ink from the interim tank and produces printing ink. An liquid electro-photographic print engine receives the printing ink from the ink tank. A fluid return line is connected between the mixing unit and at least one of the interim tank and the ink tank, the mixing unit receiving fluid from at least one of the interim tank and the ink tank and mixing the fluid with the high solids content ink. A method for liquid electro photographic printing using high solid content ink is also provided.

Abstract: In a device or method to develop potential images of images to be printed, the potential images being generated on an intermediate image carrier using developer fluid having a charged toner and carrier fluid, developing with an applicator device the potential images, the applicator device directing the developer fluid across the intermediate image carrier. With the feed device the developer fluid is supplied to the applicator device, the feed device discharging excess developer fluid depleted of toner and that is not transferred to the applicator device. With a conditioning device the carrier fluid is taken from the applicator device and the taken up carrier fluid is discharged. With a cleaning device residual developer fluid remaining after development of the potential images is cleaned off of the applicator device and the residual developer fluid is supplied to a chamber arranged in the cleaning device.

Abstract: A wet-type image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member for bearing liquid developer containing toner and carrier liquid on the circumferential surface thereof, a bias applying unit for applying a developing bias to the developer bearing member, a first charging unit for charging the toner in the liquid developer to a first polarity before supplying the liquid developer to the image bearing member, and a second charging unit for reversely charging the toner in residual liquid developer remaining on the circumferential surface of the developer bearing member to a second polarity opposite to the first polarity after the development process. When VD denotes the developing bias and V0 denotes the surface potential of the residual liquid developer when the reverse charging is not performed, a surface potential V of the residual liquid developer after reverse charging satisfies the equation: 0.1?(VD?V)/(V0?VD)?1.0.

Abstract: In a method to operate a digital printer having multiple developer stations operated with liquid developer, and wherein a number of the developer stations participating in printing is dependent on a respective print operating mode, liquid developer is supplied from a mixing container to at least one of the developer stations. With a regulatory device a fill level of liquid developer in the mixing container is kept substantially constant depending on the print operating mode. A desired different operating value is provided for the fill level for the regulatory device depending on the operating mode.

Abstract: A wet type image forming apparatus has a primary transfer unit that transfers to an intermediate transfer body a coloring particle image formed on the surface of an image bearing member by using liquid developer. A secondary transfer unit transfers onto a recording medium the coloring particle image transferred to the intermediate transfer body. A cleaning unit recovers liquid developer remaining on the intermediate transfer body after transfer by the second transfer unit. An aggregation promoting agent addition unit is disposed on a downstream side of the secondary transfer unit in a direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer body and on an upstream side of the cleaning unit in a direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer body and adds to the surface of the intermediate transfer body an aggregation promoting agent that promotes aggregation of resin contained in the liquid developer.

Abstract: A recording media containing a raw base wherein said media encompasses, on its image side, a pigmented pre-coating layer and a non-polyolefin barrier coating and, on its backside, a polymeric barrier layer. Also disclosed is a method of making such recording media and methods of forming photographic printed images on said recording media.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic ink concentrate includes non-volatile solids present in an amount ranging from about 20% to about 70% of the ink concentrate, the non-volatile solids including encapsulated pigment particles having a particle size ranging from about 500 nm to about 20 ?m, and a viscosity modifier. The ink concentrate includes a balance of a liquid composition, the liquid composition including a carrier. The concentrate is dispersible in an ink vehicle to form a print-ready liquid electrophotographic ink having the non-volatile solids present in an amount ranging from about 0.5% to 5% of the print-ready liquid electrophotographic ink.