Embodiments herein relate to 3D printing. In an embodiment, a method for printing an article using a selective toner electrophotographic process (“STEP”) includes successively depositing multiple layers of part material and support material, the layers deposited substantially parallel to a first plane; wherein: a) the multiple layers of part material and support material extend in a perpendicular to the first plane; and b) at least some of the layers of part material and support material are separated from each other to form a gap between the layers of part material and layers of support material; application of heat and pressure to the part material and support material such that a portion of the part material and support material flows into and at least partially fills the gap between the part material and support material.

A system for generating slice data for additive manufacturing, comprises a graphics processing unit (GPU) that receives a digital model of an object in a three-dimensional build space defined over a plurality of slices, computes a three-dimensional signed distance field over voxels in the build space, assigns a building material to each voxel based on a respective distance field value, and generates slice data output pertaining to the building material assignments for each slice. The slice data output can be used for printing the object in layers corresponding to the slices. The distance field comprises one or more vector having a vertical component with respect to the slices.

A 3D object according to the invention comprises substrate layers infiltrated by a hardened material. The 3D object is fabricated by a method comprising the following steps: Position powder on all or part of a substrate layer. Repeat this step for the remaining substrate layers. Stack the substrate layers. Transform the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material. The hardened material solidifies in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions in the substrate layers and does not infiltrate negative regions in the substrate layers. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is carbon fiber and excess substrate is removed by abrasion.

Systems and methods for constructing 3-dimensional (3D) parts are disclosed. A printing system may include a deposition system configured to print a plurality of 2-dimensional (2D) layers onto a plurality of carrier sheets. The printing system also includes a transferring system configured to transfer a 2D layer from a carrier sheet of the plurality of carrier sheets, onto the 3D part. The 3D part may be located on a base substrate. The printing system further includes a feed system configured to provide the plurality of carrier sheets from the deposition system to the transfer system in a successive fashion while maintaining the directionality of printing in the deposition and transferring systems.

An image forming apparatus operable at a plurality of image forming speeds includes a pattern detection unit configured to detect a registration correction pattern at a first image forming speed, a writing start timing determination unit configured to determine writing start timing at which an electrostatic latent image is started to be written on a photosensitive member by a light beam emitted from a light source, and a storage unit configured to store in advance a correction amount for correcting the writing start timing. When the image forming apparatus operates at the first image forming speed set in advance, an image is formed at the writing start timing determined by the writing start timing determination unit. When the image forming apparatus operates at a second image forming speed, an image is formed at a writing start timing corrected based on the correction amount and a speed ratio.

Even from a plurality of small documents, their front-side and back-side images to be formed on a recording paper sheet, with alignment and coincidence of the front-side and back-side images of each document between the front and back sides of the recording paper sheet. In an image forming apparatus, an image processing section detects a front-side image of an original document from a scan area read in a first scan by an image reading section, detects a back-side image of the original document from a scan area read in a second scan, and moves or rotates the front-side image and the back-side image of the original document in terms of a whole image of the scan area so that the front-side image and the back-side image of the original document are brought into alignment and coincidence between a front side and a back side of a recording paper sheet.

Even from a plurality of small documents, their front-side and back-side images to be formed on a recording paper sheet, with alignment and coincidence of the front-side and back-side images of each document between the front and back sides of the recording paper sheet. In an image forming apparatus, an image processing section detects a front-side image of an original document from a scan area read in a first scan by an image reading section, detects a back-side image of the original document from a scan area read in a second scan, and moves or rotates the front-side image and the back-side image of the original document in terms of a whole image of the scan area so that the front-side image and the back-side image of the original document are brought into alignment and coincidence between a front side and a back side of a recording paper sheet.

An image forming apparatus includes: a motor which is provided in a housing of the image forming apparatus; a first gear which includes a rotation shaft axially supported by the housing; a first bearing and a second bearing which support the rotation shaft of the first gear and are arranged on one side and the other side of the first gear; a second gear which includes a rotation shaft and meshes with the first gear; a rotating member to which the second gear is attached and which is rotatable with respect to the housing so as to be positioned at a first position at which the first gear and the second gear mesh with each other and at a second position at which the second gear is separated from the first gear; a third bearing and a fourth bearing which support the rotation shaft of the second gear and are arranged on one side and the other side of the second gear; and a holding member which is provided in the housing integrally holds the first bearing and the second bearing, the holding member having a first groove portion which is formed on a movement locus of the third bearing moving by the rotation of the rotating member, into which the third bearing enters when the rotating member moves from the second position to the first position, and which holds the third bearing when the rotating member is positioned at the first position, and the holding member having a second groove portion which is formed on a movement locus of the fourth bearing moving by the rotation of the rotating member, into which the fourth bearing enters when the rotating member moves from the second position to the first position, and which holds the fourth bearing when the rotating member is positioned at the first position.

A lens array unit includes a lens array including a plurality of lenses, a first side plate, and a second side plate, the first side plate and the second side plate being configured to hold the plurality of lenses therebetween, and a frame made of resin and including a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion, the first supporting portion being in contact with an outside surface of the first side plate, the second supporting portion being in contact with an outside surface of the second side plate, the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion being configured to hold the lens array therebetween and support the lens array. The outside surface of the first side plate includes a plurality of first concave portions spaced from each other in an array direction of the lenses and configured to fit with the first supporting portion.

A reading apparatus includes an irradiation unit that performs irradiation with light, a light receiving unit that receives light reflected from an object to be imaged, a first optical path in which specularly reflected light, which is obtained as light emitted by the irradiation unit is reflected from a first reflection surface so that a front surface of the object to be imaged in an irradiation region is irradiated with the reflected light, and the reflected light is specularly reflected from the front surface of the object to be imaged, is guided to the light receiving unit as a read image, a second optical path in which diffusely reflected light, which is obtained as the light emitted by the irradiation unit is reflected from a second reflection surface so that the front surface of the object to be imaged in the irradiation region is irradiated with the reflected light, and the reflected light is diffusely reflected from the front surface of the object to be imaged, is guided to the light receiving unit as a read image, and a switching section that switches between the first optical path and the second optical path by rotating the irradiation unit.