An image forming apparatus (1) includes image bearing members (31), transfer members (52), and a power supply section (57). The image bearing members (31) each bear one of toner images in different colors from one another. The transfer members (52) are located opposite to the image bearing members (31). The power supply section (57) charges the transfer members (52). Through the above, the toner images on the respective image bearing members (31) are transferred to a moving transfer target (51). The power supply section (57) includes a power supply device (58 or 58a) connected to at least two of the transfer members (52). The transfer members (52) connected to the power supply device (58 or 58a) are each located at a position shifted upstream or downstream of a corresponding one of the image bearing members (31) in a moving direction (X) of the transfer target (51).

A three-dimensional part and associated support structure is constructed using an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system. A support layer is developed using a first electrophotography engine, and a part layer is developed using a second electrophotography engine. The developed support and part layers are transferred to a transfer medium and moved into alignment with a tile region of a layer transfusion assembly, where the transferred part and support layers are transfused to previously-printed layers. This process is repeated for a plurality tile regions and for a plurality of layers to construct a three-dimensional part having a footprint larger than a maximum printable area of the first and second electrophotography engines.

A method of printing a part in an electrophotographic additive manufacturing system includes printing a part and associated support structure in a layer by layer manner, and providing a chamber in which printing is performed. The chamber is supported by a movable platform and the chamber is positioned about a movable platen. The movable platen is supported by the movable build platform. The movable platen is movable within the chamber on the movable build platform. An electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part includes a transfer medium configured to receive and transfer imaged layers of a three-dimensional part, and a support from one or more imaging engines. The system includes a heater configured to heat the imaged layers on the transfer medium to at least a fusion temperature, and a layer transfusion assembly configured to transfuse the imaged layers to the build platen or a previously printed layer.

In a method of producing a 3D part using an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, a plurality of layers of a powder-based material are developed using at least one electrophotography (EP) engine. The developed layers are transferred to a transfer medium. The layers on the transfer medium are dried by heating the layers without fully fusing the powder-based material to itself using a dryer. This reduces a water content of the layers. The dried layers are heated on the transfer medium to at least a fusion temperature, at which the power-based material fuses together, using a pre-transfusion heater. The dried layers are then transfused together on a build platform using a transfusion assembly to build the part in a layer-by-layer manner.

A part material for printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material including a composition having a grafted copolymer (including acrylonitrile units, butadiene units, aromatic units modified withpolycarbonate and poly(styrene-co-maleimide)), a charge control agent, and a heat absorber. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.

A method and system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes rotating a transfer belt with a developed layer, scanning the developed layer on the rotating transfer belt, pressing the developed layer into contact with an intermediate build surface of the three-dimensional part retained on a moveable build platform, scanning the pressed layer on the three-dimensional part, comparing the scanned layers to detect an overlay error, and adjusting a position of the moveable build platform relative to the transfer belt to reduce the overlay error for a subsequent developed layer.

A method of printing a part in an additive manufacturing system includes printing a support structure for the part, printing a boundary surrounding the support structure, and printing the part on the support structure. An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part includes a transfer medium configured to receive and transfer imaged layers of a thermoplastic-based powder for a boundary, a thermoplastic-based powder for a support, and a thermoplastic-based powder for the part from at least two imaging engines, a heater configured to heat the imaged layers on the transfer medium to at least a fusion temperature of the thermoplastic-based powder, and a layer transfusion assembly including a build platform, the layer transfusion assembly being configured to transfuse the heated layers in a layer-by-layer manner onto the build platform to print the three-dimensional part.

A process for coating a substrate comprising the sequential steps of (a) providing a transfer sheet provided with a printed powder coating, (b) applying the transfer sheet onto the substrate with the powder coating in contact with the substrate, (c) removing the transfer sheet from the powder coating and (d) curing the powder coating on the substrate.

An image recording medium includes an image supporting member that has a ruggedness on a surface and has a surface roughness Rz of 3 m or more, an image receiving layer that includes a first thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 60 C. or more and a second thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 15 C. or less, and a transparent supporting member, in this order, wherein an image formed of an image forming material is provided between the image supporting member and the image receiving layer and a ruggedness corresponding to the ruggedness of the image supporting member is formed on an outermost surface of the image recording medium on a side of the transparent supporting member.

An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes one or more electrophotography engines configured to develop layers of the three-dimensional part, a rotatable transfer belt configured to receive the developed layers from the electrophotography engine(s), a detector configured to measure powder densities of the developed layers on the rotatable transfer belt, and to transmit signals relating to the measured powder densities to a controller assembly, and a printing assembly configured to receive the developed layer from the rotatable transfer belt and to print the three-dimensional part from the developed layers.