# US 8,783,853 B2 · Layer forming device, image forming apparatus, and computer readable medium

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- Number: US 8,783,853 B2
- Document ID: US8783853B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/097,786
- Filed: 2011-04-29
- Published: 2012-05-03
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-01
- Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hiroshi Inoue; Hiroshi Ikeda; Toshitake Yui; Kentaro Ageishi
- Inventors: Hiroshi Inoue; Hiroshi Ikeda; Toshitake Yui; Kentaro Ageishi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783853B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/0057: {where an intermediate transfer member receives the ink before transferring it on the printing material}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A layer forming device forms a layer of liquid absorbing particles on a surface of a layer of a hardenable solution capable of being hardened in response to a given stimulus so that the liquid absorbing particles absorb liquid drops supplied to the surface of the layer of the hardenable solution.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A layer forming device comprising:
a first forming portion that supplies a hardenable solution capable of being hardened in response to a stimulus to a surface of a to-be-formed body to form a layer of the hardenable solution, the first forming portion being a liquid discharge head which discharges the hardenable liquid solution through nozzles; and
a second forming portion that forms a layer of liquid absorbing particles by supplying the liquid absorbing particles to a surface of the layer of the hardenable solution formed by the first forming portion so that the liquid absorbing particles absorb liquid drops supplied to the surface of the layer of the hardenable solution,
wherein the second forming portion brings the liquid absorbing particles into contact with the surface of the layer of the hardenable solution and supplies the liquid absorbing particles to the surface of the layer of the hardenable solution to from the layer of the liquid absorbing particles.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
the layer forming device according to claim 1;
an image forming portion that forms an image by discharging liquid drops to be absorbed by the liquid absorbing particles onto the surface of the layer of the hardenable solution with the layer of the liquid absorbing particles formed by the second forming portion of the layer forming device; and
a transfer portion that gives the stimulus to the layer of the hardenable solution with the image formed thereon by the image forming portion, that hardens the layer of the hardenable solution, and that transfers the layer of the hardenable solution onto a to-be-transferred body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first forming portion is configured to change the thickness of the layer of the hardenable solution formed on a surface of the to-be-formed body to a plurality of thicknesses.