A new method to measure the adhesive strength distribution between toner and magnetic carrier particles has been developed. When a small amount of two-component magnetic developer is distributed on a piece of magnet, carrier particles are aligned in chains perpendicular to the wall surface, i. e. a magnetic brush is formed. This magnet is mounted in a rectangular airflow channel, 1mm high and 8mm wide, and then by increasing the air velocity at a constant rate, the toner particles are removed from the carrier particles. The quantity of toner particles entrained into the airflow is measured with a light scattering detector, and adhesive strength distribution is obtained from the relationship between the quantity of the particles entrained and the air velocity. The amount of sample required for the measurement is 20mg and the measurement time is 5min. In this research, chemical toner and pulverized toner were used, and the effect of the charge-to-mass ratio of the toner on the adhesive strength distribution was evaluated.

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This paper provides an overview of the recent progress of simulation technology of electrophotography. Numerical simulation is indispensable for reducing development term and cost, and improving image quality and reliability. Efficient simulation, which used to be impossible a decade ago, becomes possible utilizing highly efficient hardware and software. The dimension of calculations is progressed from one-dimension to three-dimension and more detailed simulation can be carried out. Almost all the processes of electrophotography;charging, exposure, development, transfer, fusing, cleaning, paper handling and adhesion of toner particle, are being investigated with simulations.

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The objective of this work is to develop the simulator for analyzing the particle behavior in a two-component electrophotographic system by using Discrete Element Method. Some analyses were introduced in this article briefly. The mixing behavior in an augur system was analyzed to know the circulating motion, and the effect of toner charge on the paddle mixing was discussed. The effect of magnet configuration on the magnetic brushes behavior in an interactive touchdown developing system was also simulated. The developed toner mass on the photoreceptor was analyzed under the different conditions of toner charge.

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The transfer process of the color electro-photographic system consists of various parts, including a photoconductor drum, transfer roller, intermediate transfer belt, toner, paper, and saw-like static charge eliminator. Each of the components physically interacts with each other, creating electric fields with electric conduction, electric discharges, ion flows;thus, the components transfer the toner, and electrify and deform the paper. We have developed a simulator which considers multi-physics above to analyze physical phenomena occurring in the transfer process and also clarifies the latitudes appropriate for the robust design. The developed simulator was applied to calculate the current characteristics, electric discharges, toner scattering and paper transportation of the intermediate transfer system. The results of the simulator showed good agreement with the experiments. The developed simulator is useful for the analysis of the physical phenomenon mechanism and the estimate of various design latitudes.

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New method to compute toner melting and deforming in fusing nip is developed by coupling a rheological model and the CCUP method. Viscoelastic character of toner is modeled using the Leonov model. Phase change of toner is modeled by the WLF equation. Toner melt behavior is computed as a multi-disciplinary problem with rigid material, viscoelastic material and the air with moving boundary and free surface. This article gives some technical information about these problems. As an application, effects of some fusing parameters are demonstrated.

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In this article, application of simulation technologies to product development of electrophotographic system is discussed. Recently, physical mechanisms of various phenomena in the electrophotography have been clarified, and we are now being equipped with simulation models and tools to design hardware and parameters by predicting the results. Frontloading and resource saving effects of such processes are coming to be widely recognized. There are varieties of its application depending on the development phase, such as providing design guidelines for troubleshooting by modeling physical mechanisms and finding the robust system layout design by combining with design techniques like quality engineering. By constructing appropriate environment for efficient utilization and consistency with product development process, the simulation technologies are expected to be even more effective measures to improve productivity.

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One of purposes of visualization is to make others understand result of research, and importance of visualization is increasing for this purpose. When stereoscope is used for visualization, three-dimensional complex phenomenon becomes easy to understand. Projectors and monitors for stereoscope become cheaper, so that environment for stereoscope is prepared. Immersive virtual reality systems are also effective. Augmented reality technique is worthy to notice. Result of visualization can be merged into image from a digital video camera in real time with it.
Visualization techniques with the latest IT equipments are explained in this article from points of view of both hardware and software environment.

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Inkjet process comprises small droplets generation from an inkjet print head and pattern generation on a substrate. Ink dynamics in the print head is well described by means of an equivalent circuit model. Droplet generation phenomena are simulated using a CFD program with a free surface model. On an impermeable substrate, surface tension, wetting dynamics, and induced internal flow in drying process strongly influence on the final pattern shape.

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