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.

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.

A method for printing a three-dimensional part and a support structure with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system. The method includes developing a support layer of the support structure from a soluble support material with a first electrophotography engine, and transferring the developed support layer from the first electrophotography engine to a transfer medium. The method also includes developing a part layer of the three-dimensional part from an ABS part material with a second electrophotography engine, and transferring the developed part layer from the second electrophotography engine to the transfer medium. The method further includes moving the attracted part and support layers to a layer transfusion assembly with the transfer medium, and transfusing the moved part and support layers together to previously-printed layers with the layer transfusion assembly.

A method for printing a three-dimensional part and a support structure with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system. The method includes developing a support layer of the support structure from a soluble support material with a first electrophotography engine, and transferring the developed support layer from the first electrophotography engine to a transfer medium. The method also includes developing a part layer of the three-dimensional part from an ABS part material with a second electrophotography engine, and transferring the developed part layer from the second electrophotography engine to the transfer medium. The method further includes moving the attracted part and support layers to a layer transfusion assembly with the transfer medium, and transfusing the moved part and support layers together to previously-printed layers with the layer transfusion assembly.

A method of printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, with a part material including a composition having an engineering-grade thermoplastic material and a charge control agent. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.

A method of printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, with a part material including a composition having an engineering-grade thermoplastic material and a charge control agent. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.

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.

An image forming apparatus which, to the extent possible, prevents an operation for protecting a printer engine from being uncompleted before power to the printer engine is shut down due to cancellation of a process that should be carried out by the printer engine. When a predetermined time period has elapsed since an instruction to reduce power consumption was detected, power to the printer engine is shut down. When the instruction is detected, a canceling instruction for canceling the process that should be carried out by the printer engine is issued to the printer engine. Responsive to this, a cancellation process for the process is started, and an engine protecting instruction for protecting the printer engine without waiting for completion of the cancellation process is issued to the printer engine. After the operation for protecting the printer engine is carried out, power to the printer engine is shut down.

An image forming apparatus which, to the extent possible, prevents an operation for protecting a printer engine from being uncompleted before power to the printer engine is shut down due to cancellation of a process that should be carried out by the printer engine. When a predetermined time period has elapsed since an instruction to reduce power consumption was detected, power to the printer engine is shut down. When the instruction is detected, a canceling instruction for canceling the process that should be carried out by the printer engine is issued to the printer engine. Responsive to this, a cancellation process for the process is started, and an engine protecting instruction for protecting the printer engine without waiting for completion of the cancellation process is issued to the printer engine. After the operation for protecting the printer engine is carried out, power to the printer engine is shut down.