Abstract: An image-forming apparatus, a fixing unit and a heat circulation system are equipped with a heat circulator capable of being fabricated at low costs and ensuring high heat exchange efficiency. The heat circulator includes two tabular metal members that come into contact with an intermediate transfer member at positions upstream and downstream of a simultaneous transfer and fixing zone, and plural heat pipes that transfer the heat of the first metal member to the second metal member.

Abstract: An image transfer system comprising an endless belt serving as an image carrier and passing through a first processing station where it is maintained at a low temperature and through a second processing station where it is maintained at a higher temperature, and a heat exchanger formed by two portions of said belt moving in opposite directions and held in sliding contact with each other by a pressing member, the pressing member being a deflecting roller that co-rotates with the belt portion that is directly in contact therewith.

Abstract: A method of transferring an image on a surface to a substrate comprising: a) heating the surface to a first temperature above a temperature at which the image adheres to the substrate; b) heating the substrate to a second temperature above ambient temperature and below the first temperature; c) pressing the substrate to the surface; d) cooling the image while it is in contact with both the surface and the substrate such that it cools during said contact to a third temperature, below a temperature at which its cohesion is greater than its adhesion to the surface; and e) then separating the substrate from the surface, said image being transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying body, a heating unit, a pressure unit for applying pressure, a recording medium supporting member, and a depressing/close-contacting unit. The recording medium supporting member moves in the same direction as the image carrying body moves, from a pressure position where the pressure unit applies pressure to the recording medium and the image carrying body to an exfoliation position where the recording medium is exfoliated from the image carrying body while supporting the recording medium overlapped with the image carrying body. The depressing/close-contacting unit sandwiches and depresses the recording-medium supporting member and the image carrying body in a middle position between the pressure position and the exfoliation position to closely contact the recording medium with the image carrying body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image carrier, a circularly driven intermediate transfer member and a transfer fixation device. The transfer fixation device includes a fixed pad, a pressure roll, a heating device and a corrugation suppression member. The fixed pad is brought into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member. The pressure roll is pressed against the fixed pad through the intermediate transfer member being interposed therebetween. The heating device for heating and melting the toner on the intermediate transfer member is located at an upstream side of a contact position of the fixed pad in a movement direction of the intermediate transfer member. The corrugation suppressing member provided along the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member in its circumferential direction is located between a position where the heating device is provided and a position where the fixed pad is provided.

Abstract: In this invention, even if a thick resin coated recording medium having large heat capacity is used, a high quality image with an excellent gloss feeling is obtained. A transfer fixing device is provided with a press conveying mechanism which includes at least one pair of pressing bodies for nipping and conveying an image bearing and conveying body and a recording medium, and contact-conveys the recording medium on the image bearing and conveying body in a region exceeding a nip region of the pair of pressing bodies, and a heat supply adjusting mechanism which includes a heating source for heating the recording medium contact-conveyed on the image bearing and conveying body by the press conveying mechanism from both obverse and reverse sides to melt an unfixed image and a thermoplastic resin layer, and makes adjustment to cause heat supplied to an image bearing surface side of the recording medium to be more than heat supplied to a non-image bearing surface side of the recording medium.

Abstract: Transfer members useful in electrostatographic reproducing apparatus, including digital, image-on-image and contact electrostatic printing apparatus. The transfer members feature a substrate comprising a nanosize polymer material and can be used as transfer members, transfuse, transfix members, or transport members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for printing an image on a print medium with a liquid developer which comprises a liquid carrier and a toner dispersed in the liquid carrier. The image is printed by forming a toner image comprising the toner from the liquid developer; and transferring the toner image to the print medium under pressure.

Abstract: An image forming system having two simplex print engines is provided that transfers and fuses two images on either side of a substrate in a single nip. The two images can be formed simultaneously at the single nip.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus using a liquid toner is disclosed. A nonvolatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner is used as a liquid developer. A developing section is in contact with photosensitive drums 11-14, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, so that the liquid developer is supplied onto photosensitive drums 11-14. Toner particles contained in the liquid developer are caused to adhere to the photosensitive drums 11-14 according to an electric field established between the developing section and the photosensitive drums 11-14 to thereby form toner images. An intermediate transfer section includes an intermediate transfer roller 15 and an intermediate transfer belt 16. The toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drums 11-14 to the intermediate transfer section according to an electric field established between the intermediate transfer section and the photosensitive drums 11-14.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a transfer station adapted to receive a continuous web feed, wherein situated on both sides of the continuous web are transferable paired printed images, and the station is further adapted to thereafter simultaneously transfer the paired printed images from the continuous web to respective substrates.

Abstract: An image forming method has steps of transferring a toner image formed on an image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer member and simultaneously transferring and fixing the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium. The toner contains a binder resin and a colorant, and has a storage elastic modulus (G′) of 2×102 to 6×103 Pa at a temperature at which a loss elastic modulus (G″) reaches 1×104 Pa, and the simultaneous transfer and fixing is conducted using a transfer and fixing unit which has a nip between a fixing roll coated with an elastic member and a heat-resistant belt laid across support rolls, and the heat-resistant belt is urged against the fixing roll and the elastic member of the fixing roll is twisted at an exit of the nip with a pressure roll mounted inside the heat-resistant belt.

Abstract: A pressure member is provided suitable for use in an image forming system. The pressure member includes a core surrounded by a sleeve. The inner perimeter of the sleeve is large than the outer perimeter of the core to enable the sleeve to be removed and replaced easily when worn out.

Abstract: A paper separating apparatus of a printer includes a separating member installed to be adjacent to an exit side of the transfer roller and under a path along which the paper is discharged and fixedly coupled to a pair of bearing guides which rotatably support opposite ends of the transfer roller to be capable of pivoting by a predetermined angle together with the bearing guides, a guide roller installed at an upper surface of the separating member for guiding discharge of the paper, a pivot restricting mechanism for restricting the pivot angles of the separating member and the bearing guides, and an elastic force applying mechanism for applying an elastic force in one direction so that the separating member and the bearing guides can maintain regular positions.

Abstract: A transfix member with a substrate, an optional conformable intermediate layer, and thereover an outer fluorosilicone layer, and a heating member associated with the substrate.

Abstract: A development section uses a liquid toner as a liquid developer and forms a toner image according to an electric field established between the development section and a photosensitive drum. The toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer roller 15 according to an electric field established between the same and the photosensitive drum. The toner image is further transferred from the intermediate transfer roller to an intermediate transfer belt 16 and then transferred to a transfer-and-fixation section, which melt-transfers the toner image onto a printing medium. Photosensitive drums 11-14 are provided so as to correspond to a plurality of colors. Toner images formed on the corresponding photosensitive drums are sequentially transferred and superposed on the intermediate transfer roller.

Abstract: An image forming system having two simplex print engines is provided that transfers and fuses two images on either side of a substrate in a single nip. The two images can be formed simultaneously at the single nip.

Abstract: A fixing device and method for transfusing toner on a receptor material is disclosed. Particularly, the fixing device comprises a heated transfuse member having an outermost layer of a material selected from the group of polyorganosiloxanes, fluorosilicones, fluoro-elastomers, phenylsilicones, and mixtures or hybrid compositions thereof. In operation, this outermost layer releases an amount of release agent corresponding to an amount of release agent of 0.05 mg per printed side of A4 paper or below, measured on NopaColor 100gsm paper at an operating temperature for the transfuse member of 120 degrees Centigrade. Preferably, this outermost layer has a peel force, being measured according to Finat No. 3, with tape TESA 4163 at a peeling speed of 30 cm/min, above 7 N/m.

Abstract: The present invention is related to slipless drive image reproduction systems, such as printers and copiers, having one or more intermediate transfer members between the image-forming member and the receptor material. In operation, images are formed on the image-forming member and transferred via the intermediate transfer member to a face of the receptor material. These subsequent transfers are executed in transfer contact zones where the respective image-carrying members contact each other. The respective image-carrying members are coupled and driven such that the losses created in the transfer contact zones are balanced over the respective drive device.

Abstract: A transfix member with a substrate, an optional adhesive intermediate layer, and thereover an outer haloelastomer having pendant hydrocarbon chains covalently bonded to a backbone of the haloelastomer, and a heating member associated with the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling picture quality in a transfuse xerographic machine has independent velocity control of image transfer and transfuse belts or rollers when they are disengaged from each other and a common velocity control when they are engaged with each other. The machine can be a monochrome or color copier or printer. Various rollers can be the drive and/or the encoder rollers.

Abstract: A color xerographic printing apparatus exhibiting a very high toner transfer efficiency. A rough-surfaced or bumpy Intermediate Transfer Belt (ITB) provides reduced contact area between toner particles and the ITB. Adhesion forces between the ITB and toner images deposited thereon are minimized thereby reducing the electrostatic forces required for transferring toner images from the ITB to a final imaging substrate or a transfuse belt. The bumpy configuration enables use of small quantities of release agent material such as silicone oil for further enhancing toner image transfer without transfer silicone oil to various components of the apparatus including an imaging member such as a photoreceptor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling picture quality in a transfuse xerographic machine has independent velocity control of image transfer and transfuse belts or rollers when they are disengaged from each other and a common velocity control when they are engaged with each other. The machine can be a monochrome or color copier or printer. Various rollers can be the drive and/or the encoder rollers.

Abstract: A transfix member with a substrate, an optional conformable intermediate layer, and thereover an outer fluorosilicone layer, and a heating member associated with the substrate.

Abstract: A method of refreshing a sticky cleaner used for cleaning a fuser member in an electrophotographic printer. The method comprises the steps of precoating the cleaner member with a low cost polymer toner material prior to a printing operation removing contaminants from the sticky surface of the cleaner member. A refreshed cleaning member prior to being used to clean a fuser in an electrophotographic printer in accordance with the features of the present invention comprises a surface cleaning member having minimal contaminants thereon and a coating of a plastic toner material that can become tacky at the operating cleaner temperatures.

Abstract: A transparent film for electrophotographic image formation thereon is formed of a transparent substrate, and a surface-coating layer disposed on at least one surface of the transparent film. The surface coating layer is characterized by exhibiting a contact angle of 55-90 deg. with pure water at 23° C. and a humidity of 50%RH; containing an electronically conductive agent as a resistivity-adjusting agent; a universal hardness of at least 150 N/mm2; and exhibiting a surface resistivity of 1×108-1×1012 ohm/□. As a result of the specified properties, the transparent film exhibits good toner image transfer characteristic and provides images free from transfer failure, such as hollow image dropout, thin image density or discharge pattern formation.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member defines a transfer nip with a transfuse member. A cooling platen contacts the intermediate transfer member in the post-transfer nip region. The cooling platen absorbs heat from the intermediate transfer member to evaporate a liquid into a gas. The gas is directed to a heating platen contacting the pre-nip region of the intermediate transfer member. The heating platen condenses the gas to a liquid to heat the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic printing apparatus includes a photosensitive belt circulating around a predetermined track. A transfer roller contacts the photosensitive belt, and receives an image therefrom. A fuser roller presses against the transfer roller so that the toner image transferred to the transfer roller is transferred to a sheet of paper passing between the transfer roller and the fuser roller. A fuser roller cleaning device selectively contacts the fuser roller and maintains a peeling force of the fuser roller within a predetermined range. A peeling force adjusting device selectively contacts the transfer roller and maintains a peeling force of the transfer roller within a predetermined range. The surface energies SET, SEP, and SEF of the transfer roller, the paper sheet, and the fuser roller, respectively, satisfy the following inequality: SET<SEP<SEF.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image carrier, a circularly driven intermediate transfer member and a transfer fixation device. The transfer fixation device includes a fixed pad, a pressure roll, a heating device and a corrugation suppression member. The fixed pad is brought into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member. The pressure roll is pressed against the fixed pad through the intermediate transfer member being interposed therebetween. The heating device for heating and melting the toner on the intermediate transfer member is located at an upstream side of a contact position of the fixed pad in a movement direction of the intermediate transfer member. The corrugation suppressing member provided along the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member in its circumferential direction is located between a position where the heating device is provided and a position where the fixed pad is provided.

Abstract: Efficient and uniform heating of a thick transfuse member, wherein the transfuse member is constructed in the form of a transfuse belt that is subject to heating at both front and rear surfaces. An elongated cavity is defined by a portion of the path of the transfuse belt about a plurality of guide rollers. Front surface heating is accomplished by use of a heated roller and rear surface heating is accomplished by use of a heat source situated within the cavity. The majority of the cavity is enclosed by the transfuse member and the guide rollers. Substantially all of the output of the heat source is efficiently transferred to the transfuse member and little or none of the heat produced by the heat source is lost to other components or structures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer-fixing belt for an electronic appliance, comprising a seamless reinforcing layer made of a continuous string, a heat resistant rubber layer formed on the reinforcing layer, and a heat resistant resin layer formed on the heat resistant rubber layer and adapted for releasing the toner attached thereto.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus, a fixing unit and a heat circulation system are equipped with a heat circulator capable of being fabricated at low costs and ensuring high heat exchange efficiency. The heat circulator includes two tabular metal members that come into contact with an intermediate transfer member at positions upstream and downstream of a simultaneous transfer and fixing zone, and plural heat pipes that transfer the heat of the first metal member to the second metal member.

Abstract: A member for use is a copying device includes at least a substrate and thereon a surface layer comprised of a nitrile-silicone rubber or elastomer. The nitrile-silicone rubber or elastomer provides superior resistance to swelling from solvents such as hydrocarbons found in many developer compositions. The member may have any form, including a belt, plate or drum configuration. The member may be used in the copying device as a fuser member, a pressure member, a transfer member or a transfix member.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing toner images onto a recording medium comprises an endless fixing member urged into contact with an endless counter member to form a fixing nip there between through which the recording medium passes. A cleaning roller has a surface in contact with the fixing member downstream of the fixing nip, the surface carrying a layer of tacky cleaning material. A controllable applicator unit continuously provides fresh cleaning material to the cleaning roller. A spindle contacts the cleaning roller surface for transporting the fresh cleaning material from the applicator unit across the roller and for transporting the contaminated tacky cleaning material towards an edge of the cleaning roller. Improved removal of debris is thereby possible.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a latent image is formed on a rotatable photosensitive body and treated with a liquid developer containing a carrier solution and toner particles, whereupon a visible image is formed on the body. The visible image is transferred from the photosensitive body to a record medium through the intermediation of an intermediate transfer body. The transfer body has a surface that serves as a transfer medium. As the transfer medium is pressed against the body in a transfer position, the visible image is transferred from the photosensitive body to the transfer medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously transferring an image from an imaging drum to a receptor surface in a nip formed between the imaging drum and a transfer roll using shear strain between the imaging drum and receptor sheet to provide high transfer efficiency. The improvement involves clamping the receptor sheet to the transfer roll so that all of the shear strain appears between the imaging drum and the receptor surface. Clamping may be effected by roughening the transfer roll surface, cutting fine grooves in the transfer roll surface, or providing a third or pressure roll to form a second higher pressure nip between the transfer roll and the pressure roll. The combination of high friction in the second nip and the imaging surface wrap around the pressure roll effectively cause the imaging surface to accurately track the motion of the transfer roll.

Abstract: To prevent banding occurring by a change in the speed of the photoreceptor medium generated when the leading edge and trailing edge of a sheet of paper pass through a transfer nip formed between a transfer roller and a fusing roller, an image banding reduction method of a photoreceptor medium of an indirect transfer type image forming apparatus is achieved by (A) separating the transfer roller and the fusing roller a predetermined distance from each other before the leading edge of paper enters the transfer nip, (B) approximating the transfer roller and the fusing roller after the leading edge of paper has entered the transfer nip, and maintaining the gap of the transfer nip in a normal state, and (C) separating again the transfer roller and the fusing roller a predetermined distance from each other before the trailing edge of paper is exhausted from the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image transfer system comprising an endless belt serving as an image carrier and passing through a first processing station where it is maintained at a low temperature and through a second processing station where it is maintained at a higher temperature, and a heat exchanger formed by two portions of said belt moving in opposite directions and held in sliding contact with each other by a pressing member, the pressing member being a deflecting roller that co-rotates with the belt portion that is directly in contact therewith.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer member comprising a crosslinked product of a liquid composition which comprises (a) a fluorosilicone, (b) a crosslinking agent, and (c) a thermal stabilizing agent comprising a reaction product of (i) a cyclic unsaturated-alkyl-group-substituted polyorganosiloxane, (ii) a linear unsaturated-alkyl-group-substituted polyorganosiloxane, and (iii) a metal acetylacetonate or metal oxalate compound, said transfer member having surface a resistivity of from about 104 to about 1016 ohms per square. The crosslinked fluorosilicone can be employed as intermediate or outer layers of electrostatographic fuser members.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a toner image producing station for forming a toner image. The apparatus includes an image bearing member for supporting the toner image; and a transfuse station for simultaneously transferring and fusing the toner image to a substrate transfuse station. The substrate transfuse station has: (i) a transfuse member; (ii) a heating roll adapter to heat the transfuse member; (iii) a cooling roll adapted to cool the transfuse member; and (iv) at least one phase change roll adapted to both heat and cool the transfuse member, each of the rolls in contiguous contact with the transfuse member and adapted to move the transfuse member. Included are embodiments for a method of passively managing the temperature distribution on a transfuse member and the transfuse system itself.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic printing apparatus includes a photosensitive belt circulating around a predetermined track. A transfer roller contacts the photosensitive belt, and receives an image therefrom. A fuser roller presses against the transfer roller so that the toner image transferred to the transfer roller is transferred to a sheet of paper passing between the transfer roller and the fuser roller. A fuser roller cleaning device selectively contacts the fuser roller and maintains a peeling force of the fuser roller within a predetermined range. A peeling force adjusting device selectively contacts the transfer roller and maintains a peeling force of the transfer roller within a predetermined range. The surface energies SET, SEP, and SEF of the transfer roller, the paper sheet, and the fuser roller, respectively, satisfy the following inequality: SET<SEP<SEF.

Abstract: The method of making a design and/or sign on glass, glass-ceramic and ceramic articles using a transfer agent includes providing a band-shaped carrier coated with a transfer agent; periodically advancing the band-shaped carrier coated with the transfer agent past a printing station; periodically printing the design and/or sign to be applied on the transfer-agent-coated band-shaped carrier with a heat-resistant toner to form respective printed toner images in succession on the band-shaped carrier in the printing station and registering reliably and periodically transferring the respective printed toner images to corresponding glass, glass-ceramic or ceramic articles by releasing the transfer agent from the band-shaped carrier.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus including an electrostatic latent image formation body, a latent image forming unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image formation body, and a belt-shaped image carrier with an inner surface in contact with the electrostatic latent image formation body for transferring the electrostatic latent image to the belt-shaped image carrier. A developing unit supplies a liquid developer containing toner particles and carrier liquid to a surface of the belt-shaped image carrier which is not in contact with the electrostatic latent image formation body. A solvent removal unit removes the carrier liquid from the developed image so as to form a toner-developed image. A transfer-fixation block transfers and fixes the toner-developed image from the belt-shaped image carrier onto a recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transfer and fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a belt of a photosensitive member is conveyed between a backup roller and a primary roller toward the direction indicated by an arrow, while printed sheets of paper are conveyed between a fixing roller for secondary transcription and fixing and a primary transfer roller, wherein a cleaning belt revolved by two grinding rollers is disposed at one side of the primary transfer roller, while a grinding layer is formed on the surface of the cleaning belt, wherein the cleaning belt and the two grinding rollers are housed in a case, and the case is allowed to travel along a direction of an arrow by a cam, and wherein the grinding layer shaves off the deteriorated portions by making contact with the rubber layer of the primary transfer roller when the rubber layer of the primary transfer roller formed on the surface of the primary transfer layer has been depleted.

Abstract: A paper separating apparatus of a printer includes a separating member installed to be adjacent to an exit side of the transfer roller and under a path along which the paper is discharged and fixedly coupled to a pair of bearing guides which rotatably support opposite ends of the transfer roller to be capable of pivoting by a predetermined angle together with the bearing guides, a guide roller installed at an upper surface of the separating member for guiding discharge of the paper, a pivot restricting mechanism for restricting the pivot angles of the separating member and the bearing guides, and an elastic force applying mechanism for applying an elastic force in one direction so that the separating member and the bearing guides can maintain regular positions.

Abstract: Multiple layer fuser belts having a woven fabric layer and a high conformability, low surface energy elastic layer. The fabric layer is formed from high modulus, high temperature fibers that are woven together at acute angles to the circumference of the belt fibers. The fabric layer forms a substrate with preferential stretching along the circumference of the fuser belt. The elastic layer is bonded to the fabric layer and is made from a highly conformable, low durometer material having a low surface tension. When the fuser belt is partially wrapped around a driven roller so as to form a nip with a pressure roller the fuser belt stretches in the direction of belt motion. As the fuser belt passes through the nip the fuser belt contracts, releasing surface tension and thus reduces sticking between the fuser belt and fused toner.

Abstract: A printing apparatus employs rheological assist to transfer toner images from an intermediate transfer member to a transfuse member prior to final transfer and fusion of the toner image to a substrate. The transfuse member and intermediate member are maintained at a preestablished temperature differential, the intermediate transfer member being heated above ambient temperature. The preestablished temperature differential rheologically assists the transfer of the toner image to provide complete transfer of the toner image.

Abstract: An optical photoreceptor belt is rotated by a pair of belt drive rollers. The belt is positively charged by a main-charger. Latent images having a low electric potential are formed on the belt by exposing the positively charged belt by laser diode units, In developer units, ink having positive electric charge is moved by electrostatic force from develop rollers having a high electric potential to spots of the latent images on the belt having a low electric potential to form the images. The optical photoreceptor belt with images formed thereon passes through a dying unit and is recharged by a sub-charger. The images are transferred onto a transfer roller applied a negative voltage and then transferred onto the paper when a paper passes through between a transfer roller and a fixing roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which adopts a simultaneous transfer and fixing method and is capable of obtaining a high-grade image which has high luster, a favorable balance of color and an excellent transparency. In an image forming apparatus provided with a transfer and fixing device which includes a heating roller and a pressure roller for transferring and fixing a toner image on an intermediate transfer body to a recording medium, the transferring and fixing operation is carried out using the heating roller and the pressure roller under a condition that the ratio a/b between the length a of a nip region N of the heating roller and the pressure roller in a direction A at the central portion of these rollers extending in a roller axial direction and the length b of the nip region N in the direction A at both ends of these rollers extending in the roller axial direction is set to be more than 0.8.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus fixes a superimposed multi-color toner image, heat-fused at a heating section of an intermediate transfer belt, onto a recording material at a fixing nip section at which a pressing roller presses against the intermediate transfer belt. The fixing nip section is provided at the downstream end of the heating section in a turning direction of the intermediate transfer belt. The present apparatus can accelerate a fixing rate while maintaining stable fixing properties for a multi-layer toner image of a color image having different layer thicknesses with any kind of recording papers under any operation condition, and requires a shorter warm-up period while attaining excellent heat efficiency.