An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, a first primary transfer member, a second primary transfer member, a secondary transfer outer member, a pre-secondary transfer stretch roller, a driving roller, and an execution portion. The execution portion is configured to execute a first monochromatic mode in which a bias smaller than the primary transfer bias applied to the first primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the first image bearing member is applied to the first primary transfer member, and the primary transfer bias applied to the second primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the second image bearing member is applied to the second primary transfer member.

An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member, a second image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, a first primary transfer member, a second primary transfer member, a secondary transfer outer member, a pre-secondary transfer stretch roller, a driving roller, and an execution portion. The execution portion is configured to execute a first monochromatic mode in which a bias smaller than the primary transfer bias applied to the first primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the first image bearing member is applied to the first primary transfer member, and the primary transfer bias applied to the second primary transfer member in a case where a toner image is formed on the second image bearing member is applied to the second primary transfer member.

The present invention relates to a printing method comprising a step of printing a pattern on a substrate, preferably by ink jet printing, followed by a gold plating step by means of contact between the pre-printed pattern to be gold plated and a gold plating deposition device, such as a preferably conductive metal sheet, e.g. a multilayer film comprising a preferably conductive metal sheet.

A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having an electrophotography engine, a transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly includes providing a part material to the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material compositionally comprising a charge control agent, and a thermoplastic material having a heat deflection temperature greater than about 150° C., and has a powder form. The method includes triboelectrically charging the part material to a Q/M ratio having a negative charge or a positive charge, and a magnitude ranging from about 5 micro-Coulombs/gram to about 50 micro-Coulombs/gram and developing layers of the three-dimensional part from the charged part material with the electrophotography engine. The method includes electrostatically attracting the developed layers from the electrophotography engine to the transfer medium and moving the attracted layers to the layer transfusion assembly with the transfer medium, wherein the layer transfusion assembly comprises a nip roller. The method includes transfusing the moved layers to previously-printed layers of the three-dimensional part with by moving the attracted layers about a nip of a nip roller using heat and pressure over time.

A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having an electrophotography engine, a transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly includes providing a part material to the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material compositionally comprising a charge control agent, and a thermoplastic material having a heat deflection temperature greater than about 150° C., and has a powder form. The method includes triboelectrically charging the part material to a Q/M ratio having a negative charge or a positive charge, and a magnitude ranging from about 5 micro-Coulombs/gram to about 50 micro-Coulombs/gram and developing layers of the three-dimensional part from the charged part material with the electrophotography engine. The method includes electrostatically attracting the developed layers from the electrophotography engine to the transfer medium and moving the attracted layers to the layer transfusion assembly with the transfer medium, wherein the layer transfusion assembly comprises a nip roller. The method includes transfusing the moved layers to previously-printed layers of the three-dimensional part with by moving the attracted layers about a nip of a nip roller using heat and pressure over time.

Here is described a method of printing on a plastic substrate, the method comprising: providing an electrostatic ink composition comprising a carrier liquid, and particles comprising a resin, and a slip agent dispersed in the carrier liquid; forming a latent electrostatic image on a surface; contacting the surface with the electrostatic ink composition, such that at least some of the particles and the slip agent are transferred to the surface to form a developed toner image on the surface; and transferring the toner image to the plastic substrate. Electrostatic ink compositions and plastic substrates are also disclosed.

Here is described a method of printing on a plastic substrate, the method comprising: providing an electrostatic ink composition comprising a carrier liquid, and particles comprising a resin, and a slip agent dispersed in the carrier liquid; forming a latent electrostatic image on a surface; contacting the surface with the electrostatic ink composition, such that at least some of the particles and the slip agent are transferred to the surface to form a developed toner image on the surface; and transferring the toner image to the plastic substrate. Electrostatic ink compositions and plastic substrates are also disclosed.

A toner is provided. The toner comprises a binder resin comprising a polyester resin, a release agent comprising an ester wax, and a wax dispersing agent comprising a hybrid resin. The hybrid resin comprises a condensation polymerization resin unit and an addition polymerization resin unit. The condensation polymerization resin unit comprises a condensation polymerization product of an aromatic alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component, and the carboxylic acid component comprises an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 9 to 14 carbon atoms. The addition polymerization resin unit comprises an addition polymerization product of a styrene monomer.

A toner is provided. The toner comprises a binder resin comprising a polyester resin, a release agent comprising an ester wax, and a wax dispersing agent comprising a hybrid resin. The hybrid resin comprises a condensation polymerization resin unit and an addition polymerization resin unit. The condensation polymerization resin unit comprises a condensation polymerization product of an aromatic alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component, and the carboxylic acid component comprises an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 9 to 14 carbon atoms. The addition polymerization resin unit comprises an addition polymerization product of a styrene monomer.

An image forming apparatus includes a developing section, a transfer section, and a fixing section. The developing section attaches a metal-containing toner to a latent image, and attaches a non-metal-containing toner to the latent image. The transfer section transfers, onto an intermediate transfer medium, the metal-containing toner and transfers, onto a print medium, the metal-containing toner. The transfer section transfers, onto the intermediate transfer medium, the non-metal-containing toner and transfers, onto the print medium, the non-metal-containing toner. The fixing section fixes, to the print medium, the metal-containing toner, and fixes, to the print medium, the non-metal-containing toner. The fixing section causes a temperature at which the metal-containing toner is fixed to the print medium to be lower than a temperature at which the non-metal-containing toner is fixed to the print medium.