Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic printer employs a continuously circulating photoreceptor web having a non-image region with a potential higher than an image region. A laser scanner forms a latent electrostatic image in the image region, and a development unit develops the latent image using an ink having toner particles dispersed in a liquid carrier. The development unit includes a developer roller with a surface potential in between that of the image and non-image region for forming the toner image by attaching the toner particles to the image region; a toner removal roller with a surface potential between that of the image and non-image regions after they pass through the developer roller, for removing toner particles remaining in a liquid carrier film in the non-image region; and a squeeze roller with a surface potential higher than any of the foregoing, for squeezing the liquid carrier out of the toner image by compression.

Abstract: A fusing and fixing unit used with an image forming apparatus including a fusing roller and an infrared heat source. The fusing roller has a main member that has hollow portions therein and is made of an opaque material and an infrared absorbent layer that is formed on the inner surface of the main member. The infrared heat source is installed inside the fusing roller and generates radiant heat having an infrared wavelength. Since the image forming apparatus uses an infrared heat source having a high efficiency of radiating heat as a heat source, a warm-up period can be greatly reduced. Also, since the main member of the fusing roller is formed of an opaque material, in particular, a metallic material, the image forming apparatus can be strong, low-priced, and have a large diameter.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic printer employs a continuously circulating photoreceptor web having a non-image region with a potential higher than an image region. A laser scanner forms a latent electrostatic image in the image region, and a development unit develops the latent image using an ink having toner particles dispersed in a liquid carrier. The development unit includes a developer roller with a surface potential in between that of the image and non-image region for forming the toner image by attaching the toner particles to the image region; a toner removal roller with a surface potential between that of the image and non-image regions after they pass through the developer roller, for removing toner particles remaining in a liquid carrier film in the non-image region; and a squeeze roller with a surface potential higher than any of the foregoing, for squeezing the liquid carrier out of the toner image by compression.

Abstract: A transfer unit of an electrophotographic printer includes: a transfer roller and a fuser roller for transferring an image onto the paper. One of the two rollers has a shape having flared ends and a smaller diameter at the center portion thereof and the other roller has a core portion having a crowned shape mating with the shape of the flared roller and a deformable portion which is provided around the core portion so as to form a circumferential surface having a straight profile line, and which is deformable so that a uniform gap between the two rollers is formed.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning apparatus includes at least two optical sources, a beam deflector having a deflection disc with a plurality of sectors for diffracting and transmitting incident beams, and a driving source for rotating the deflection disc, for deflecting and projecting beams emitted from the optical sources. A beam corrector installed along a light path, for correcting the beams deflected by the beam deflector.

Abstract: A device for feeding toner of a laser beam printer includes a plurality of minute feeding holes formed in a toner hopper and supplying toner therethrough, an agitator installed in the toner hopper and rotated to stir the toner to be supplied through the feeding holes; and a toner disintegrating member shaken by the rotation of the agitator, supplying a limited amount of toner and giving a limited amount of the toner stained on a feeding roller.

Abstract: A photoreceptor belt cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a photoreceptor belt circulating and supported by a plurality of rollers, a housing installed to be adjacent to the photoreceptor belt, a brush supported on the housing to be brought into contact with the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor belt, a cleaning blade installed on the downstream side of the brush in a traveling direction of the photoreceptor belt so that its leading edge contacts the photoreceptor belt, a nozzle installed in the housing so that a suction inlet is disposed around the leading edge of the cleaning blade, and a pump connected to the nozzle so as to provide vacuum suction through the suction inlet.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic printer includes a photoreceptor belt supported by and traveling around a plurality of rollers, a development device for supplying a developer liquid to the photoreceptor belt, and a drying roller having a cylindrical roller body having a hollow and through holes leading to the hollow, a rotation member rotatably installed on the outer surface of the roller body and having a plurality of mesh-like inlet holes, and an absorbing member coupled to the outer surface of the rotation member, for absorbing the liquid carrier in contact with the photoreceptor belt.