A molded resin product for use with an image forming apparatus includes: a base portion formed of a resin material; a positioning portion provided on the base portion; and a movable member formed by injection molding so as to be movable relative to the base portion. When the molded resin product is connected to a connection part, the positioning portion positions the molded resin product and the connection part relative to each other, and the movable member is contactable to a contact portion of the connection part.

An electrically conductive rubber composition is provided, which is usable for production of a transfer roller of a highly flexible foam satisfying requirements for cost reduction and weight reduction and having smaller foam cell diameters and, hence, ensuring higher-quality image formation with smaller environment-dependent variations in roller resistance. A transfer roller produced from the electrically conductive rubber composition, a production method for the transfer roller, and an image forming apparatus including the transfer roller are also provided. The electrically conductive rubber composition contains a rubber component including SBR and/or BR, EPDM and epichlorohydrin rubber, a crosslinking component, and 4 to 6 parts by mass of a foaming agent and 1.5 to 2.7 parts by mass of a foaming assisting agent based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component. The transfer roller (1) is produced by extruding the electrically conductive rubber composition into a tubular body and performing an in-can vulcanization process on the tubular body. The image forming apparatus incorporates the transfer roller.

Described herein are an apparatus and a method for direct engraving an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve by multiple laser beams simultaneously. In one embodiment, an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve is positioned on an imaging drum for direct engraving. The imaging drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. Such rotation defines a circumferential direction, also called the transverse direction. The axis of rotation defines an axial direction, also called the longitudinal direction. The printing plate or sleeve has an body and a surface made of an elastomer (made of polymer or rubber). A drive mechanism provides relative motion between a plurality of laser beams and the plate or sleeve in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.

A method for manufacturing a plate support for a self-inking stamp and plate support with a print side for attaching a text plate to the plate support, with two journals defining a swiveling axis of the plate support about which swiveling axis the plate support is mounted to swivel when used in a self-inking stamp, and with a reinforcing axle at least partially penetrating the two journals, integrally forms the journals with the plate support.

A supporting unit for supporting a rotatable member configured to feed a developer, the supporting unit includes a frame including a first surface extending in a direction crossing an axis of the rotatable member and a second surface extending in a direction crossing the first surface; and a fixed member including a first opposing surface opposing and contacting the first surface and including a second opposing surface opposing the second surface and welded to the second surface by ultrasonic spot welding.

A printing system is described that has an intermediate transfer member in the form of a seamed endless belt for transporting an ink image from an image forming station, at which an ink image is deposited on the intermediate transfer member, to an impression station, where the ink image is transferred onto a printing substrate. The belt has along its edges formations of a greater thickness than the belt. The formations are received in channels to guide the belt and maintain the belt under lateral tension. Two drive members are provided, each located within a respective one of the channels. The two drive members are connected for movement in synchronism with one another and each has a respective laterally projecting gripper shaped for form locking engagement with the formations on a leading end of a strip from which the intermediate transfer member is to be formed. Rotation of the drive members during installation of a new intermediate transfer member serves to thread the strip through the printing system by pulling the strip from its leading end.

In an example, a method for making a fluid ejection apparatus may include forming a molding material over a fluid passage on a back surface of printhead die, embedding the printhead die in an encapsulant in a cavity in a printed circuit board such that at least one drop ejector of the printhead die is exposed at a front side of the printed circuit board, removing the encapsulant at a back side of the printed circuit board to expose the molding material, and removing the molding material to form a fluid feed slot through which fluid may flow to the fluid passage opening in the printhead die.

A method of manufacturing a heat-fixing rubber roller includes: forming a rubber layer of a silicone rubber composition on an outer periphery of a metal core shaft, the composition containing water-soluble sugar powder and methylene glycol; vulcanizing the rubber layer; and eluting the sugar powder and the triethylene glycol from the vulcanized rubber layer to form a foam rubber layer.

An orifice portion and a reservoir portion are formed between a mold and a surface of either of a second constituent component and second constituent component. Molten resin flowing from between a first constituent component and the second constituent component flows into the reservoir portion through the orifice portion.

A method for printing on a multi-dimensional object may include creating a customized object holder for the multi-dimensional object by heating a thermoforming sheet to a thermoforming temperature, molding the heated thermoforming sheet around at least a portion of a multi-dimensional object to form a holding portion for the multi-dimensional object, creating one or more printable areas on the molded thermoforming sheet, and applying one or more datum points on the molded thermoformed sheet. The one or more datum points may be configured to provide information relating to position of the one or more printable areas to a print system.