An image forming apparatus including a photoconductor and a light emitting unit further includes a generating unit configured to generate correction data used for correcting a shift in the sub-scanning direction of a latent image to be formed on the photoconductor; a correcting unit configured to correct image data based on the correction data; and a control unit configured to control light emission of the light emitting unit so as to form the latent image on the photoconductor. The generating unit is configured to generate the correction data based on configuration information of the light emitting unit, information indicating time required for causing a plurality of light emitting elements to emit light, and information indicating a rotation speed of the photoconductor.

An exposing device according to an embodiment includes: a light emitter; a first light blocking member including first apertures; a first lens array including first lenses, wherein each of the first lenses converges the light passing through the corresponding first aperture; a second light blocking member including second apertures; and a second lens array including second lenses, wherein each of the second lenses converges the light passing through the corresponding second aperture. An optical axis of each of the first lenses and an optical axis of the corresponding one of the second lenses substantially coincide with each other. A first aperture center of each of the first apertures and a second aperture center of the corresponding second aperture are disposed at a predetermined distance from the optical axis of the corresponding first lens and the optical axis of the corresponding second lens in an array direction of the light emitter.

An illuminating device according to an embodiment included in an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus includes light source portions, light-guiding members for illuminating an illumination target from an elongated light emitting face that extends in a longitudinal direction, by guiding light from the light source portions, and holding members for holding the light-guiding members. The holding members include holding portions for removably holding the light-guiding members, and tilted portions that reflect light emitted from the light emitting face, the tilted portions extending from a front end on the light emitting face side of the holding portions, obliquely widening with increasing distance from the light-guiding members.

There are disclosed methods for producing curable elastomeric compositions comprising carbon black particles, as well as their corresponding cured products. Such compositions, once cured, can be used for the preparation of numerous articles of wide industrial applicability.

A printing system is disclosed for thermal transfer printing onto a surface of a substrate. The system comprises a transfer member having opposite front and rear sides with an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which energy is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which said imaging surface of said transfer member and the substrate surface are pressed against each other to cause transfer to the surface of the substrate of only the regions of the particle coating that have been rendered tacky. In the invention, the imaging station comprises a thermal print head in thermal contact with the rear side of the transfer member and operative to apply energy to the particles on the imaging surface by heat conduction through the transfer member.

A method and apparatus for thermal transfer printing onto selected regions of a substrate are disclosed. The method comprises: a) providing a transfer member having an imaging surface; b) coating the imaging surface with particles formed of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer; c) removing substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the imaging surface to leave a uniform monolayer particle coating on the imaging surface; d) applying energy to selected regions of the imaging surface to heat and render tacky particles of corresponding regions of the monolayer coating; and e) pressing at least portions of the imaging surface and the substrate surface against one another, either during and/or after application of energy, to cause transfer to the surface of the substrate of the particles of the corresponding regions that have been rendered tacky. The monolayer coating can be replenished with new particles and the cycle repeated.

Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system comprises a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

A controller which causes a light emitting element to continuously perform minute emission for a plurality of dots in a level in which toner is not attached to a non-image section on an image bearing member is provided. The controller controls a first driving current for an image section and controls a second driving current used to perform the minute emission by the light emitting element in the non-image section several times in one job. In the image section, a driving current obtained by adding the first driving current to the second driving current is supplied so that the light emitting element emits light.

There is disclosed a layered article that can be used in indirect printing, in analog or digital processes. The layered article, when configured as a transfer member, may serve to receive an ink in any form, allow the ink to be treated so as to form an ink image, and permit the application of the ink image on a substrate. The transfer member comprises a support layer and an imaging layer, which may be formed of a silicon matrix including dispersed carbon black particles. Methods for preparing the same are also disclosed.

An illuminating device according to an embodiment included in an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus includes light source portions, light-guiding members for illuminating an illumination target from an elongated light emitting face that extends in a longitudinal direction, by guiding light from the light source portions, and holding members for holding the light-guiding members. The holding members include holding portions for removably holding the light-guiding members, and tilted portions that reflect light emitted from the light emitting face, the tilted portions extending from a front end on the light emitting face side of the holding portions, obliquely widening with increasing distance from the light-guiding members.