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 scanning carriage of a printer includes a first emitter to emit first airborne charges, a second emitter to emit second airborne charges, and a fluid ejection device interposed between the first and second emitters to deposit droplets of ink particles within a non-aqueous fluid carrier onto a print medium to form an image. The carriage is movable relative to the print medium in a first direction and an opposite second direction. In the first direction, the first emitter is to electrostatically discharge the medium and the second emitter is to induce electrostatic fixation of the ink particles relative to the medium. In the opposite second direction, the second emitter is to electrostatically discharge the medium and the first emitter is to induce electrostatic fixation of the ink particles relative to the medium.

Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system includes 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.

A conveyance apparatus includes a separation unit configured to separate and convey a sheet, a detection unit configured to detect a floating of the sheet passing through the separation unit, and a control unit configured to stop separate conveyance by the separation unit if the detection unit detects the sheet for not less than a predetermined time and/or a predetermined count.

An image reading apparatus including a reading unit comprising a photodetector configured to read an image information on a sheet, and a projecting portion, a case storing the photodetector therein, the case comprising a transparent portion configured to transmit light to be received by the photodetector, and a portion defining an opening through which the projecting portion is projected outward from the case, and an elastic portion provided to fill a space where the projecting portion is not present in the opening. The case movably stores the photodetector within a range where the projecting portion is movable in the opening.

In a first image formation mode, an image is formed with a first development contrast C1 and a specific dot pattern is formed with a second development contrast C2, which is lower than the first development contrast C1; in a second image formation mode, an image is formed with a third development contrast C3 and a specific dot pattern is formed with a fourth development contrast C4, which is lower than the third development contrast C3; and when ΔC1 (=C2/C1) denotes a ratio between the second development contrast C2 and the first development contrast C1, and ΔC2 (=C4/C3) denotes a ratio between the fourth development contrast C4 and the third development contrast C3, ΔC2<ΔC1 is satisfied.

A focus adjustment mechanism for adjusting a focus position of a printhead includes a rotatable pin that is rotatable around a pin axis. The rotatable pin includes a cam section located having a surface whose radial distance from the pin axis varies around its perimeter, and a gripping feature. An adjustment plate includes a gripping feature and is adapted to fit over and engage with the gripping feature of the rotatable pin such that the adjustment plate rotates together with the rotatable pin. A fastener fastens the adjustment plate to a support structure when the adjustment plate is positioned in a desired orientation. The printhead includes a frame feature which is pulled firmly against the cam section of the rotatable pin such that as the rotatable pin is rotated the frame feature rides on the surface of the cam section thereby adjusting the focus position of the printhead.

A gas impingement device includes a first surface including a pattern of a plurality of gas outlets, the pattern including a number of substantially parallel rows of gas outlets, the rows arranged in a direction, which direction is at a skew angle α with a front edge of the first surface of the gas impingement device. A recording substrate treatment apparatus and a printing system including such a gas impingement device and a method of drying a recording substrate by using the gas impingement device are also disclosed.

A printing assembly for thermal transfer printing is disclosed. The assembly comprises at least one first printing system comprising a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of thermoplastic particles is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied, optionally via the rear side of the transfer member, to selected regions of the imaging surface to render the particles coating the selected regions tacky, a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate to form an adhesive image; and at least one more downstream printing system. The transfer member includes on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer, and on its rear side a body which can optionally be transparent to EM radiation.