Abstract: In one example of the disclosure, a first transfer of ink is made from a photoconductor to a blanket in contact with the photoconductor. The blanket is to cycle along a path. The first transfer occurs at a first arc of the blanket path. A second transfer of the ink is made from the blanket to a media in contact with the blanket. The second transfer occurs at a second arc of the blanket path. A heat source located adjacent to a third arc of the blanket path is utilized to heat an external surface of the blanket. The heating is to occur following the second transfer of the ink.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a galvanometer scanner, and the galvanometer scanner includes a mirror mounting shaft having a portion inserted into a shaft insertion opening of a housing which includes the shaft insertion opening on one surface thereof and has contents contained therein; and a mirror mounted at the mirror mounting shaft and positioned inside the housing.

Abstract: The electrophotographic member includes: an electroconductive substrate; and a surface layer having a mono-layer structure, wherein the surface layer has a matrix containing a cross-linked urethane resin as a binder, and when an elastic modulus of the matrix in a first region in a thickness direction from an outer surface of the surface layer to a depth of 0.1 ?m from the outer surface of the surface layer is defined as E1, and an elastic modulus of the matrix in a second region in a thickness direction from a depth of 1.0 ?m from the outer surface of the surface layer to 1.1 ?m from the outer surface of the surface layer is defined as E2, E1 and E2 satisfy the following Expressions (1) and (2), respectively: E1?200 MPa??(1); and 10 MPa?E2?100 MPa??(2).

Abstract: A print agent transfer assembly including a print agent transfer member to receive a first layer and a second layer of print agent, and an energy source to provide energy at a first predetermined intensity level to the first layer and to provide energy at a second, different predetermined intensity level to the second layer.

Abstract: A sliding member contains a resin and a fibrous filler. The dynamic friction coefficient of a surface of the sliding member in an in-plane direction A of the surface is 0.08 or more lower than the dynamic friction coefficient of the surface in an in-plane direction B angled at 90 degrees with respect to the in-plane direction A.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquisition interface, a developer, and a transferring and fixing device. The acquisition interface acquires image data. The developer supplies toner to an image carrier to form any one of a toner image according to the image data and a toner image of a certain shape pre-determined regardless of the image data. The transferring and fixing device forms an image represented by the image data on an image forming target medium by irradiating a surface of the medium having another surface adjacent to the toner image with light having at least a certain value of a transmittance with respect to the medium to transfer and simultaneously fix some or all of the toner image on the other surface of the medium by the light that is transmitted through the surface of the medium. The toner is melted by the light.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for controlling the direction of cooling air flow across components of an electronic devices. An air-cooled electronic device includes: an air flow generator that is able to generate air flow in either first or second direction across the device; a sensor that measures first and second temperatures of air in the device when the air flows in the first and second directions, respectively; and a controller coupled to the mechanism and the sensor. The controller compares the first temperature to the second temperature and controls the air flow generator to generate the air flow in one of the first and second directions based on comparison of the first temperature to the second temperature.

Abstract: To switch between four nip modes, a cam is driven by a single drive to move between first to fourth positions. At the first position, a first nip between a first pressing body and a fixing member has a first width, and a second nip between a second pressing body and the fixing member has a second width. At the second position, the first nip has a third width smaller than the first width, and the second nip has a width greater than or equal to the second width. At the third position, the first nip has a width greater than or equal to the first width, and the second nip has a fourth width smaller than the second width. At the fourth position, the first nip has a fifth width smaller than the first width, and the second nip has a sixth width smaller than the second width.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to obtain information with regard to the life of a secondary transfer member based on the variation in an electric resistance value of a secondary transfer portion, wherein the detection unit performs a process of reducing the effect of variation in the electric resistance value of an intermediate transfer member contained in the variation in the electric resistance value of the secondary transfer portion, based on a detection result of information with regard to the electric resistance value of the secondary transfer portion by a second detection unit, and on a detection result of information with regard to an electric resistance value of a primary transfer portion by a first detection unit, and obtains the information with regard to the life of the secondary transfer member.

Abstract: A resin particle composition includes resin particles, polishing agent particles having an average circle-equivalent diameter of 0.1 ?m to 3.0 ?m, and silica particles having a compression aggregation degree of 60% to 95% and a particle compression ratio of 0.20 to 0.40.

Abstract: A method for heat treatment of mixed media sheets in an image reproduction apparatus having an image forming station, a heat treatment station, a conveying path for conveying the sheets one by one through the image forming station and the heat treatment station, and a duplex loop for looping sheets back from the heat treatment station to the image forming station includes pre-heating a sheet before an image is formed thereon in the image forming station. The pre-heating includes the sub-steps of passing the sheet through the image forming station while the image forming station is idle, passing the sheet through the heat treatment station for pre-heating, and looping the sheet back to the image forming station.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer film for use in a transfer lamination device includes a carrier layer, a transfer layer on the carrier layer, and a plurality of alignment marks supported on the carrier layer. The transfer section is configured to be transferred from the carrier layer to a substrate through a transfer lamination operation. Each alignment mark is substantially transparent to visible light and absorbs infrared light.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer member, and a power source. The image bearer includes a plurality of layers. The transfer member forms a transfer nip between the image bearer and the transfer member. The power source outputs a transfer bias to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The transfer bias alternates between a transfer-side bias that causes the toner image to move from the image bearer to the recording sheet, and an opposite-side bias different from the transfer-side bias. A duty ratio of a time period, during which the opposite-side bias is output, relative to one cycle of a waveform, is greater than 50%.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first rotary body, a second rotary body to contact the first rotary body, and a plain bearing that supports the first rotary body or the second rotary body. One rotary body of the first rotary body and the second rotary body has an outer diameter increasing, while the other rotary body has an outer diameter decreasing, in a curved line from an axial center portion to axial end portions of the first rotary body and the second rotary body at least between the first rotary body and the second rotary body. A recording medium passes between the first rotary body and the second rotary body with a circumferential component of a shear force generated between the first rotary body and the second rotary body by use of the plain bearing being in a range of from 15N to 25N.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heating plate, a pressure roller, a first belt guide and a second belt guide. The endless belt has a tubular shape and extends in a first direction. The heating plate is disposed inside the endless belt and extends in the first direction. The first belt guide guides an end of the endless belt in the first direction and includes an inner guide and a restriction portion to restrict movement of the endless belt in the first direction. The second belt guide faces the first belt guide in a second direction and extends from a vicinity of the heating plate to a vicinity of the inner guide along the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt. An end of the restriction portion in the second direction closer to the heating plate is located closer to the second belt guide than the inner guide.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a thermoplastic resin and a fibrous material. The fibrous material has an orientation angle Fa of from 5° to 30° in a direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An invented image forming apparatus has a fixing device for stably fixing developer on a medium. The fixing device includes a heating member, an endless belt member subject to heating provided from the heating member, a tension member tensioning the belt member, a pressure member forming a pressurized contact nipping portion via the belt member, a supporting member supporting the pressure member, a pushing member pushing the pressure member and the belt member, a fixing member pushing the pressure member and the belt member, a medium guide guiding move of the medium in a direction toward the pressurized contact nipping portion, and a pressure member moving mechanism for moving a position of the pressure member in the supporting member. The image forming apparatus further includes a controller controlling the position of the pressure member via the pressure member moving mechanism.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and including a heated face and a heater including a contact face contacting the heated face of the fixing rotator. The contact face has a Vickers hardness not greater than about 600 Hv.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressing rotator, an oil applicator, a first adjuster, a surface modifier, a second adjuster, and a processor. The fixing rotator contacts a recording medium bearing a toner image. The pressing rotator forms a fixing nip with the fixing rotator. The oil applicator is pressed against at least one of applied members of the fixing rotator and pressing rotator. The first adjuster adjusts contact/separation of the oil applicator with respect to the applied member. The surface modifier contacts the fixing rotator to modify a surface thereof. The second adjuster adjusts contact/separation of the surface modifier with respect to the fixing rotator. The processor allows the surface modifier to modify the fixing rotator surface after the oil applicator contacts the applied member, and the oil applicator to separate from the applied member after the surface modifier is separated from the fixing rotator.

Abstract: A novel image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, an intermediate transfer member onto which the electrostatic latent image is transferred, a primary transfer member to apply a primary transfer bias to the intermediate transfer member to transfer the toner image thereto, a secondary transfer member supplied with a secondary transfer bias to transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium, and a transfer bias power source to selectively apply to the secondary transfer member one of a secondary transfer bias consisting of a direct current (DC) voltage in a DC transfer mode and a secondary transfer bias consisting of a superimposed bias in which an alternating voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage.

Abstract: An intermediate transferer includes a polyvinylidene fluoride resin including polyvinylidene fluoride and a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a conductive agent and an additive. The additive includes a polymer including a polyalkyleneoxide structure having a number-average molecular weight not less than 1,000. The polyvinylidene fluoride resin includes the vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer in an amount of from 5 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride. The intermediate transferer includes the conductive agent in an amount of from 1.0 to 20 parts by weight and the additive in an amount of from 1.0 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride resin.

Abstract: To provide a transfer apparatus that uniforms peeling characteristics and peeling characteristics in transfer processing and that enables a stabilized transfer result to be obtained, in a transfer apparatus for nipping a transfer film 46 and recording medium K with a transfer roller 33 and transfer platen 31 to form an image on the recording medium, preheating treatment of the recording medium K is performed before transfer processing. At this point, by determining a preheating amount corresponding to the temperature of the recording medium K, it is possible to obtain a stabilized transfer result in response to a change in transfer conditions due to a change in environmental temperature and a change in the transfer surface. Particularly, in the case of performing backside transfer subsequently to frontside transfer, since the temperature of the recording medium K is high, a preheating amount in backside transfer is made smaller than in frontside transfer.

Abstract: Provided is a transport device including a first transport member that transports a sheet-shaped medium in a transport direction, a transport path that is formed by a first guiding member which guides the medium in the transport direction and a second guiding member which guides the medium in the transport direction, at least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding member including a widened part on a downstream side of a processing position and on an upstream side of a second transport member, a pressing member that presses the medium to the first guiding member, a processing unit that performs a processing on the medium which is transported in the transport path, and a second transport member that transports the medium, which is guided by the first guiding member and the second guiding member, in the transport direction.

Abstract: An imaging member surface layer including between 55% and 95% fluorosilicone, between 5% and 20% infrared-absorbing material by weight, between 1% and 5% silica, between 0.15% and 0.35% catalyst and between 10% and 18% crosslinker by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer. The surface layer has a thickness between 10 microns and 1 millimeter and a surface tension energy of 22 dynes/cm or less and a polar components of 5 dynes or less.

Abstract: A device is provided for curling side edges of a sheet of media to be held down by a hold down system in an image production system. The device has a first shaped element having an outer section, the outer section of the first shaped element pointing in a first direction; a second shaped element having an outer section, the outer section of the second shaped element pointing in a second direction opposite the first direction; a first pinching element adjacent to the first shaped element, a first pathway being formed between the first pinching element and the first shaped element; and a second pinching element adjacent to the second shaped element, a second pathway being formed between the second pinching element and the second shaped element.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body that heats toner while rotating and fixes the toner on a recording medium, a pressurizing rotary body that sandwiches and pressurizes the toner and the recording medium by the fixing rotary body, and a supporting part that supports the fixing rotary body from the inside so that a peak pressure on an outlet side of the recording medium becomes equal to or lower than a peak pressure on an inlet side, in a contact part where the fixing rotary body and the pressurizing rotary body come into contact with each other.

Abstract: A transfer image forming apparatus includes ink applying unit for applying ink to an intermediate transfer member to form an intermediate image; a heating unit for irradiating the intermediate transfer member with at least infrared light to heat the intermediate image; and a transferring unit for pressing a recording medium against the intermediate transfer member having formed thereon the intermediate image to transfer the intermediate image onto the recording medium. The intermediate transfer member includes a substrate, and at least a second layer, a metal layer, and a first layer as a surface layer provided in the listed order on the substrate. The heat conductivity of the second layer is smaller than that of the first layer.

Abstract: A system to combine the transfer and fixing xerographic steps of a xerographic printer into one, as well as to eliminate the need for an electrical field for transfer. The image is transfixed directly from a photoconductor to the paper or other suitable substrate. Appropriate pressure is applied during this step to cold-pressure fix the toner on the paper, taking into account the type of substrate and type of toner. The cold pressure transfix can be done either directly from a photoreceptor, without an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), eliminating all electrostatic transfer subsystems and a fusing operation. Alternatively, for engines with an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), the cold pressure transfix could replace a needed second transfer and fuser system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive member, an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer and fixing belt, a fixing and pressing roller, and a heating device. The heating device heats a toner image on the transfer and fixing belt between a first toner image transfer position for transfer from the intermediate transfer belt onto the transfer and fixing belt and a second toner image transfer position for transfer from the transfer and fixing belt onto a sheet in a moving direction of a belt surface of the transfer and fixing belt and, at the same time, heats the sheet conveyed to the second toner image transfer position.

Abstract: A heating roller heats an inner surface of a toner integrating belt to heat a toner image carried on an intermediate transfer belt to a toner softening temperature or more to form a toner film. A cooler cools down the inner surface of the toner integrating belt to cool down the toner film under pressure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to form a toner image by a toner image forming portion on an intermediate transfer belt, to transfer the toner image to a transfer and fixing belt, and to form a toner film by heating and pressurizing the toner image on the transfer and fixing belt. The transfer and fixing belt includes an elastic layer and when the toner film is pressurized to a recording medium in a body at a toner film transfer portion, the toner film is pressed to the recording medium while following surficial ruggedness of the recording medium. Because the toner image is formed by using toner particles containing a thermoplastic elastomer having crystallinity, the toner film formed of this toner image is fully resilient.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming method in which a foil image exhibiting excellent finish without any wrinkle and strong adhesive strength is formed on a foil transferring face made of toner. The image forming method for transferring the transfer foil on the foil transferring face is conducted by contacting the transfer foil to the foil transferring face formed by using toner having a glass transition temperature of not more than 60° C., and by passing through a nip portion formed between a driving roller and a follower roller.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a fuser member. The fuser member includes a substrate layer having a polyimide polymer and a fluoro acid. A method of manufacturing a fuser member is also described.

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: An image recording apparatus includes a toner transporting member that transports a toner layer while carrying the toner layer on a first surface of the toner transporting member, the toner transporting member including the first surface and a second surface; a heating unit including heating elements that contact the second surface that is opposite to the first surface of the toner transporting member, and that generate heat in accordance with image information, the first surface contacting a recording medium and carrying the toner layer; and a transferring unit that selectively transfers toner at an image portion to the recording medium as a result of causing each heating element of the heating unit to generate the heat with a temperature of the heating elements at the image portion and a temperature of the heating elements at a non-image portion being different from each other.

Abstract: A transfer and fixing device as means for heating a recording medium prior to transfer and fixing, without risk of fire, superior in energy efficiency, and able to stably heat irrespective of the thickness of the recording medium; and an imaging forming apparatus comprising such a transfer and fixing device comprising: a transfer and fixing member by which an image is transferred; a pressurizing member that forms a nip by pressure contact with the transfer and fixing member and pressurizes and fixes the image on the recording medium that passes through the aforementioned nip; a radiant heat source that is arranged on the upstream side of the nip in the direction of transport of the recording medium; and a thermoconductive member that is heated by the radiant heat source and heats the recording medium when in contact, wherein a radiant heat region is provided, between the nip and the thermoconductive member, where the recording medium is heated by radiant heat from the radiant heat source.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotatably provided and heats an image formed on a recording material to fix the image to the recording material, a contact member that moves the recording material by being rotationally driven while coming into contact with the fixing member, and is provided to be separated from the fixing member, and a rotating member that is mounted on the contact member, is disposed to come into contact with the fixing member while the contact member is separated from the fixing member, rotates while interlocking with the contact member, transmits a rotational driving force from the contact member to the fixing member, and rotates with respect to the contact member when the fixing member is rotated by an external force and a rotational driving force is transmitted to the rotating member from the fixing member.

Abstract: An image recording method includes recording an intermediate image by applying an ink to an intermediate transfer body, and transferring the intermediate image onto a recording medium while heating the intermediate image. The ink contains a coloring material and polymer fine particles which have an interpenetrating polymer network structure constituted by a crystalline polymer and an amorphous polymer. In transferring the intermediate image, the intermediate image is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the crystalline polymer and equal to or higher than a glass transition point of the amorphous polymer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear an electrostatic latent image on the surface thereof, a transfer-fixing member disposed adjacent to the image baring member, including a transfer surface onto which the toner image is transferred from the image bearing member, a first pressure member to meet and press against the transfer-fixing member to form a nip therebetween, a heating member to heat a recording medium, provided upstream of the nip in a direction of transport of the recording medium, and a transport guide member to change a contact area of the recording medium and the heating member in accordance with a thickness or a resilience of the recording medium. When the recording medium passes the nip, the toner image is pressed and fixed on the recording medium.

Abstract: A transfer fixing device includes a transfer fixing member, a pressure member, and a primary heater. The transfer fixing member defines a moving surface on which a toner image travels. The pressure member is pressed against the transfer fixing member to define a transfer fixing nip where the toner image traveling along the moving surface meets a surface of a recording medium traveling along the media conveyance path. The primary heater is located upstream of the transfer fixing nip along the media conveyance path to heat the surface of the recording medium before entering the transfer fixing nip. The heated surface of the recording medium fuses toner for transfer and fixing into place at the transfer fixing nip. The pressure member is at least partially electrically biased to generate an electrostatic field to promote transfer of toner at the transfer fixing nip.

Abstract: In a transfer-fixing device for transferring and fixing a toner image on a transfer-fixing side of a recording medium, a transfer-fixing member carries the toner image. A pressing member presses against the transfer-fixing member to form a nip between the transfer-fixing member and the pressing member through which the recording medium passes. A heat transmission member is provided upstream from the nip in a recording medium conveyance direction to heat the transfer-fixing side of the recording medium while guiding the recording medium to the nip. A heating member is connected to the heat transmission member to heat the heat transmission member. A biasing member biases the recording medium guided by the heat transmission member against the heat transmission member.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.

Abstract: A stacking device includes a contact section with which top ends of the recording media in a conveying direction, conveyed into the storage space, make contact so stop the recording media at a storage position, a media move section which comprises a plurality of partition members, forms a plurality of spaces capable of storing the recording media between the partition members, stores the recording media stopped at the storage position into arbitrary one of the plurality of spaces, and moves the partition members thereby to move at least a part of the top ends of the recording media to a pushup position different from the storage position, and a lift section which pushes up, to the carry-out section, the recording media moved to the pushup position by the media move section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor member, and a transfer roller disposed to face the photoconductor member and allow the developer image to be transferred to a transfer-receiving member. A fixing device disposed downstream from the photoconductor member in a conveying direction and configured to fix the image formed on the transfer-receiving member, and a conveying path forming member disposed between the photoconductor member and the fixing device, and that forms a conveying path from the photoconductor member to the fixing device. The conveying path forming member includes first and second members which respectively extend from/to the photoconductor member to/from the fixing device. The second member crosses a second line which perpendicularly crosses a first line, which connects axes of the photoconductor member and the transfer roller, and passes through a contact area in which the photoconductor member and the transfer roller are configured to contact each other.

Abstract: An image forming method using toner comprising toner particles having a core-shell structure comprising a core particle incorporating a viscous material and a shell layer covering the above core particle is disclosed. The method comprises steps of a toner image forming step on a dielectric drum; a first pressure applying step in which the shell layer of the toner particles forming the toner image is subjected to a preliminary break treatment by a first pressure roller, which is arranged in contact with the dielectric drum; and a transfer/fixing step in which a toner image made by the toner particles which have been subjected to a preliminary break treatment by the first pressure applying step is transferred and fixed to an image support by a second pressure roller which is arranged in contact with the dielectric drum.

Abstract: In a transfer nip roller operative to transfer an image from an image carrier to a recording medium, a ratio (We3/Wt3)/(We30/Wt30) is 0.47 or more, where We3 is an elastic workload and Wt3 is a total workload measured by applying a load on a covering portion under a load push-in condition of 3 mN/10 seconds, and We30 is an elastic workload and Wt30 is a total workload measured by applying a load on the covering portion under a load push-in condition of 30 mN/10 seconds.

Abstract: A transfer-fixing device includes a transfer-fixing member, a pressing member, a heating device, and a temperature equalizer. The transfer-fixing member carries the toner image. The pressing member presses against the transfer-fixing member to form a nip portion to which the recording medium is conveyed. The heating device heats the transfer-fixing surface of the recording medium conveyed toward the nip portion. The temperature equalizer equalizes a temperature distribution of a surface of the transfer-fixing member in a width direction of the transfer-fixing member after the surface of the transfer-fixing member passes through the nip portion.

Abstract: Substrate (or marking material) pre-heating is employed to facilitate fusing of the marking material with the substrate and with adjacent marking material. By heating primarily the material which becomes the interface between substrate and marking material, and by minimizing the distance between the point of heat application to the substrate (or marking material) and the marking nip in a print system, the amount of time for heat energy to dissipate prior to the application of the marking material to the substrate surface is minimized, meaning that the total amount of energy required to drive the heat source can be reduced. Addressable heating may be employed to further reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, optical heating may be used to provide rapid, on-demand heating, thereby reducing warm-up time as well as reducing unutilized heat energy.

Abstract: A system to combine the transfer and fixing xerographic steps of a xerographic printer into one, as well as to eliminate the need for an electrical field for transfer. The image is transfixed directly from a photoconductor to the paper or other suitable substrate. Appropriate pressure is applied during this step to cold-pressure fix the toner on the paper, taking into account the type of substrate and type of toner. The cold pressure transfix can be done either directly from a photoreceptor, without an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), eliminating all electrostatic transfer subsystems and a fusing operation. Alternatively, for engines with an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), the cold pressure transfix could replace a needed second transfer and fuser system.