An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a communication interface for receiving image forming instruction information via a plurality of communication protocols. The image forming instruction information includes image data, and transmission information indicating the communication protocol used. An image forming section prints an image using one of a decolorable toner and a non-decolorable toner. A storage device stores correspondence information indicating, for each communication protocol, one of the decolorable toner and the non-decolorable toner for forming an image. A processor is programmed to determine the communication protocol with which the received image forming instruction information was transmitted. The processor determines, based on the correspondence information, one of the decolorable toner and the non-decolorable toner for forming an image, and controls the image forming section to print an image using the determined one of the decolorable toner and the non-decolorable toner.

An imager includes an ion-emitting unit and a conveying structure to move a passive e-paper display medium in a first orientation along a travel path and to releasably support the display medium in spaced relation to receive airborne ions from the ion-emitting unit for imaging operations.

An imaging device for a passive e-paper display includes an erasing head to emit ions in a first polarity followed by an opposite second polarity after a first time period. The passive e-paper display is mountable on a support in a spaced apart relationship relative to the erasing head and by which the emitted ions are receivable onto substantially the entire surface of the passive e-paper display. Relative movement occurs between the support and the erasing head at least some of the time during the emission of ions from the erasing head.

A variable transmission display comprises an electrophoretic medium having electrically charged particles dispersed in a fluid, the electrophoretic medium being capable of assuming a light-transmissive state and a substantially non-light-transmissive state; a light-transmissive first electrode disposed adjacent one side of the electrophoretic medium; light-transmissive second electrodes disposed adjacent the other side of the electrophoretic medium; and voltage means for varying the potential each of the second electrodes independently of one another.

A media includes at least one passive e-paper display. The display has a first side and an opposite, second side, with the display defining an image-bearing surface that is generally co-extensive with substantially the entire first side.

An ion writing unit includes an ion generator and an array of electrode nozzles aligned to receive and guide generated ions. An air flow source causes an air flow adjacent the ion generator or in an orientation adjacent the electrode nozzles.

An imaging device for a passive e-paper display includes an erasing head to emit ions in a first polarity followed by an opposite second polarity after a first time period. The passive e-paper display is mountable on a support in a spaced apart relationship relative to the erasing head and by which the emitted ions are receivable onto substantially the entire surface of the passive e-paper display. Relative movement occurs between the support and the erasing head at least some of the time during the emission of ions from the erasing head.

A belt drive includes a belt and at least one pair of spaced apart rails extending in a first direction and defining a gap. The belt is aligned with the gap and to be driven in an endless loop with the belt including a first movable portion external to the gap on a first side of the rails and a second movable portion biased to be recessed within the gap on an opposite second side of the rails. A rewritable display medium is releasably engageable in a sandwiched position between a slidable contact surface of the rails and a first segment of the second movable portion external to the gap to move the display medium in the first direction for contact-less imaging via a unit spaced from the rails.

An imager includes an ion-emitting unit and a conveying structure to move a passive e-paper display medium in a first orientation along a travel path and to releasably support the display medium in spaced relation to receive airborne ions from the ion-emitting unit for imaging operations.

A method for writing to an electronic imaging substrate includes passing an electronic imaging substrate in relation to a writing device to change a state of image cells within the electronic imaging substrate. The imaging substrate is placed close enough to the writing device to reduce a blooming effect to a predefined threshold level when changing a state of one of the image cells within the electronic imaging substrate.