A heater includes a heat-resistant insulating substrate, a plurality of heat generating members arrayed in a first direction on a first surface of the substrate, and a plurality of heat radiating bodies disposed on a surface different from the first surface of the substrate at positions corresponding to gap portions between the heat generating members to passively radiate heat generated thereby.

An apparatus for use in a selective toner electrophotographic process (STEP) additive manufacturing system, the apparatus includes a radiant heat source configured to emit radiation of a first band of wavelengths in the region of a transfuse roller nip; and a pyrometer configured to receive and measure radiation emitted from the region of the transfuse roller nip; wherein the radiation measured by the pyrometer comprises a second band of wavelengths different from the first band of wavelengths emitted by the radiant heat source. The radiant heat source is typically one or more laser light emitters.

A fixing device includes a belt, a roller, a heater, a reflector board, a stay, and a thermally-conductive member. The belt is rotatable in a rotational direction. The roller is positioned to be in contact with an outer surface of the belt so as to form a nip between the roller and the belt. The heater is configured to heat an inner surface of the belt. The reflector board is configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward the inner surface of the belt. The stay is in contact with the reflector board. The thermally-conducive member is thermally connected between the belt and at least one of the reflector board and the stay. The thermally-conducive member includes a first portion that is in contact with the belt at a first region downstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction.

A method of forming an image includes forming, on a recording medium (P), a special-light responsive image (201) that includes an image forming material including a special-light responsive image forming material that reacts to special light other than visible light and a special-light irresponsive image (202) that includes an image forming material including the special-light responsive image forming material. The special-light responsive image forming material of the special-light irresponsive image (202) is less than the special-light responsive image forming material of the special-light responsive image (201), and the special-light irresponsive image (202) is a prevention image that prevents visibility of the special-light responsive image (201). The forming includes forming an overlaid portion (203) in which at least a portion of one of the prevention image and the special-light responsive image (201) is overlaid on top of another one of the prevention image and the special-light responsive image (201).

A heating device includes a rotator, a heating source, a reflector, a rotator holder, and a liquid or semi-solid substance. The rotator is rotatably held. The heating source heats the rotator. The reflector includes a reflection face that reflects radiant heat emitted from the heating source. The reflection face has a reflectance lower at each end portion of the reflection face in a longitudinal direction of the rotator than at a center portion of the reflection face in the longitudinal direction of the rotator. The rotator holder holds a longitudinal end portion of the rotator. The liquid or semi-solid substance has lubricity and adheres to the rotator holder.

A device comprising a supply, a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The supply is to supply a metallized, non-absorptive media along a travel path, which is electrically connectable to a ground element, the metallized media to carry a first polymer structure. The first portion along the travel path is to receive droplets of ink particles within a dielectric, non-aqueous carrier fluid on the first polymer structure on the media to form an image. The second portion is to apply an adhesion-promoting surface treatment, onto the ink particles and the first polymer structure, comprising UV ozone, plasma, or chemical additive. The third portion is to apply, via heat and pressure, a second polymer structure onto the ink particles and the first polymer structure to produce a media assembly.

A method is disclosed. The method may comprise applying a coating of electrically charged fluid print agent to a developer surface, the fluid print agent comprising particles of thermoplastic resin in a carrier fluid. The method may further comprise controlling migration of fluid print agent from the developer surface to form an image from fluid print agent on a first surface. The method may further comprise irradiating the print agent on the first surface with ultraviolet radiation to heat the print agent to a temperature of at least 70° C. to melt the thermoplastic resin. A print system and a heating unit are also disclosed.

A scanning laser having a wavelength compatible with a coating binder so as to cure it as the laser scans and irradiates the coating on a moving web. A system and method for curing flakes by providing a scanning laser which scans across a moving coated substrate in a magnetic field allows images to be formed as magnetically aligned flakes are cured into a fixed position. The images have regions of cured aligned flakes. The scanning laser cures the magnetically aligned flakes within it region it irradiates. Alternatively an array of lasers can be used wherein individual lasers can be switched on and off to fix irradiated coating as a moving web is moved at a high speed.

A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member includes a main-body portion that contains aluminum or aluminum alloy and a protective layer that includes an oxide film formed on a surface of the main-body portion. The main-body portion contains a heat receiving surface that faces the heating element and receives radiant heat from the heating element, and a rubbed surface that is rubbed against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. The protective layer contains coloring agent that causes an emissivity of the heat receiving surface and the rubbed surface to be higher than an emissivity of a natural color oxide film.

A method of forming an image includes forming, on a recording medium (P), a special-light responsive image (201) that includes an image forming material including a special-light responsive image forming material that reacts to special light other than visible light and a special-light irresponsive image (202) that includes an image forming material including the special-light responsive image forming material. The special-light responsive image forming material of the special-light irresponsive image (202) is less than the special-light responsive image forming material of the special-light responsive image (201), and the special-light irresponsive image (202) is a prevention image that prevents visibility of the special-light responsive image (201). The forming includes forming an overlaid portion (203) in which at least a portion of one of the prevention image and the special-light responsive image (201) is overlaid on top of another one of the prevention image and the special-light responsive image (201).