Abstract: An image forming apparatus employs a liquid toner having nonvolatile high-viscosity silicon oil as a carrier fluid to form a toner image. The image forming apparatus includes a removing unit that removes a predetermined amount of carrier fluid contained in the toner image to thereby obtaining a carrier-fluid removed toner-image, a transfer unit that transfers the carrier-fluid removed toner-image onto an image forming medium; and a fixing unit that fixes the carrier-fluid removed toner-image on the image forming medium to the image forming medium.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention uses a nonvolatile liquid developer. An electric field force causes toner to adhere to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductive member 2 to thereby form a toner image on the photoconductive member 2. Viscoelasticity control means is provided for controlling the viscoelasticity of a toner image transferred from the photoconductive member 2 onto an intermediate transfer member 3. A temperature of the liquid toner at which a predetermined requirement for a dynamic viscoelastic value is satisfied is obtained beforehand by preliminary measurement. The viscoelasticity control means controls heating by a heater 4, which serves as heating means, in such a manner that the toner image on the intermediate transfer member 3 is heated to the temperature before being transferred onto a printing medium 6.

Abstract: A full-color electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is configured such that a toner image is formed on an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer member is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the softening start temperature of resin contained in a liquid toner and equal to or lower than the withstand temperature of a photoconductor member. A carrier-removing roller to which bias can be applied abuts the intermediate transfer member so as to remove a carrier while packing softened toner by the force of an electric field induced by bias. In a transfer section for transfer to a printing medium, a backup roller presses the printing medium against the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the printing medium. Before being pressed against the toner image on the intermediate transfer member, the printing medium is heated.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus in which, after a toner image formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer member by use of a liquid developer is transferred to a printing medium, the liquid developer remaining on the intermediate transfer is removed and collected. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning-liquid application device for applying a cleaning liquid to the intermediate transfer member which has transferred an image to the printing medium; a bias voltage application device for applying a bias voltage opposite in polarity to charged toner particles of the developer to the intermediate transfer member; and a collection device for removing the cleaning liquid which has been applied to and the residual developer which remains on the intermediate transfer member from the intermediate transfer member without transfer of an image to the printing medium, and collecting the removed cleaning liquid and residual developer.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus forms on a toner-image-bearing body a plurality of color images developed by a plurality of developing units, one for each color, that use liquid toner. One or more carrier-removing units for removing excessive carrier from a toner layer that forms a toner image are disposed downstream of each developing unit and upstream of the next developing unit disposed upstream of the former developing unit with respect to a process progress direction. Each carrier-removing unit includes two or more conductive collection rollers to which a bias voltage is applied in such a direction as to press toner against the toner-image-bearing body and which is brought into contact with the toner-image-bearing body. The upstream roller is rotated in the same direction as the direction of surface movement of the toner-image-bearing body, whereas the downstream roller is rotated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: After passing a position of transfer to a printing medium 10, a portion of an intermediate transfer member 1 on which an image is previously formed reaches the position of a cleaning unit 2. The cleaning unit 2 removes residual toner, whereby the intermediate transfer member 1 prepares for a next cycle of formation of images in the corresponding colors by means of the developing units 4, 5, 6, and 7. The cleaning unit 2 includes an application friction roller 21 and a bias roller 24. The application friction roller 21 has a function to weaken cohesion/firm adhesion of residual toner through application of a cleaning liquid to the intermediate transfer member 1 and a function to exfoliate and disperse the residual toner in the cleaning liquid through imposition of a shear force on the residual toner. The bias roller 24 includes a bias voltage generation mechanism 24a for applying a bias voltage between the bias roller 24 and the intermediate transfer member 1.

Abstract: A full-color electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is configured such that a toner image is formed on an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer member is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the softening start temperature of resin contained in a liquid toner and equal to or lower than the withstand temperature of a photoconductor member. A carrier-removing roller to which bias can be applied abuts the intermediate transfer member so as to remove a carrier while packing softened toner by the force of an electric field induced by bias. In a transfer section for transfer to a printing medium, a backup roller presses the printing medium against the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the printing medium. Before being pressed against the toner image on the intermediate transfer member, the printing medium is heated.

Abstract: In the present invention, a toner image produced through a development process of supplying a liquid toner onto an image bearing body bearing an electrostatic latent image is transferred from the image bearing body onto an intermediate transfer body and then transferred from the intermediate transfer body onto a printing medium by use of a backup roller in a transfer-and-fixation zone. The printing medium is preheated to a temperature required for transfer and fixation before the printing medium reaches the transfer-and-fixation zone. No heating means is provided in the transfer-and-fixation zone, and the intermediate transfer body and the backup roller are pressed against each other at a high pressure ranging from 10 kg/cm2 to 60 kg/cm2.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus utilizes a nonvolatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner as a liquid developer. A developing section is in contact with photosensitive drums 11-14, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, so that the liquid developer is supplied onto photosensitive drums 11-14. Toner particles contained in the liquid developer adhere to the photosensitive drums 11-14 according to an electric field established between the developing section and the photosensitive drums 11-14 to form toner images. The toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drums 11-14 to an intermediate transfer section. A transfer-and-fixation section includes a heater to melt-transfer the toner images onto the printing medium. A development section is disposed at a lower portion of the apparatus to prevent smudging of the printing medium and the intermediate transfer section even when the liquid toner spills.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus forms on a toner-image-bearing body a plurality of color images developed by a plurality of developing units, one for each color, that use liquid toner. One or more carrier-removing units for removing excessive carrier from a toner layer that forms a toner image are disposed downstream of each developing unit and upstream of the next developing unit disposed upstream of the former developing unit with respect to a process progress direction. Each carrier-removing unit includes two or more conductive collection rollers to which a bias voltage is applied in such a direction as to press toner against the toner-image-bearing body and which is brought into contact with the toner-image-bearing body. The upstream roller is rotated in the same direction as the direction of surface movement of the toner-image-bearing body, whereas the downstream roller is rotated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: In the present invention, a toner image produced through a development process of supplying a liquid toner onto an image bearing body bearing an electrostatic latent image is transferred from the image bearing body onto an intermediate transfer body and then transferred from the intermediate transfer body onto a printing medium by use of a backup roller in a transfer-and-fixation zone. The printing medium is preheated to a temperature required for transfer and fixation before the printing medium reaches the transfer-and-fixation zone. No heating means is provided in the transfer-and-fixation zone, and the intermediate transfer body and the backup roller are pressed against each other at a high pressure ranging from 10 kg/cm2 to 60 kg/cm2.

Abstract: A liquid-development full-color electrophotographic apparatus utilizes a development section having a liquid toner as a liquid developer to form a toner image according to an electric field established between the development section and a photosensitive drum. The toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer roller according to an electric field established between the intermediate transfer roller and the photosensitive drum, from the intermediate transfer roller to an intermediate transfer belt, and then to a transfer-and-fixation section, which melt-transfers the toner image onto a printing medium. A voltage controlled according to electric characteristics of each color toner is applied to the corresponding photosensitive drums while the roller is grounded. A toner cohesion enhancement unit is provided for enhancing the degree of toner cohesion of a toner image transferred and reverse transfer is suppressed.

Abstract: Provided are an applicator roller for conveying and applying liquid toner onto a developing roller in the form of a level, thin layer, and a conductive blade which comes into contact with a liquid toner layer on the developing roller. A predetermined amount of liquid toner passes through a gap between the conductive blade and the developer roller; and voltage is applied to the conductive blade so as to establish a state such that toner particles contained in the liquid toner are sparsely scattered in a surface region of a level, thin toner layer on the developing roller. Subsequently, the liquid toner, whose surface region is in a state such that toner particles are sparsely scattered, is brought into contact with an image bearer body for performing development.

Abstract: A liquid-development electrophotographic apparatus using a liquid toner is disclosed. A nonvolatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner is used as a liquid developer. A developing section is in contact with photosensitive drums 11-14, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, so that the liquid developer is supplied onto photosensitive drums 11-14. Toner particles contained in the liquid developer are caused to adhere to the photosensitive drums 11-14 according to an electric field established between the developing section and the photosensitive drums 11-14 to thereby form toner images. An intermediate transfer section includes an intermediate transfer roller 15 and an intermediate transfer belt 16. The toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drums 11-14 to the intermediate transfer section according to an electric field established between the intermediate transfer section and the photosensitive drums 11-14.

Abstract: Provided are an applicator roller for conveying and applying liquid toner onto a developing roller in the form of a level, thin layer, and a conductive blade which comes into contact with a liquid toner layer on the developing roller. A predetermined amount of liquid toner passes through a gap between the conductive blade and the developer roller; and voltage is applied to the conductive blade so as to establish a state such that toner particles contained in the liquid toner are sparsely scattered in a surface region of a level, thin toner layer on the developing roller. Subsequently, the liquid toner, whose surface region is in a state such that toner particles are sparsely scattered, is brought into contact with an image bearer body for performing development.

Abstract: A toner image is transferred from a photosensitive member 10 onto an intermediate transfer belt 24. Toner particles transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 24 are melted through application of heat, and the molten toner is transferred onto a printing medium. A carrier-removing roller 29 is disposed downstream of a position where a toner layer on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is melted through application of heat. Through utilization of a phenomenon that toner particles (resin component) are melted and integrated in a heating process and a phenomenon that the carrier solvent (liquid component) is isolated in the heating process, the carrier solvent is removed efficiently. Also, there is disposed at the position of the heating process a carrier-removing roller 28 for removing the carrier solvent from the intermediate transfer belt 24 while the toner layer on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is being melted through application of heat.

Abstract: A development section uses a liquid toner as a liquid developer and forms a toner image according to an electric field established between the development section and a photosensitive drum. The toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum onto an intermediate transfer roller 15 according to an electric field established between the same and the photosensitive drum. The toner image is further transferred from the intermediate transfer roller to an intermediate transfer belt 16 and then transferred to a transfer-and-fixation section, which melt-transfers the toner image onto a printing medium. Photosensitive drums 11-14 are provided so as to correspond to a plurality of colors. Toner images formed on the corresponding photosensitive drums are sequentially transferred and superposed on the intermediate transfer roller.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent a sheet of continuous-form paper from slackening when it is fed back in a printer capable of feeding both sheets of continuous-form paper and cut-form paper.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent a sheet of continuous-form paper from slackening when it is fed back in a printer capable of feeding both sheets of continuous-form paper and cut-form paper.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to prevent a sheet of continuous-form paper from slackening when it is fed back in a printer capable of feeding both sheets of continuous-form paper and cut-form paper.