Abstract: A liquid toner imaging system having at least one metal product, having a coating on at least a portion thereof, the coating having a thickness of between about 0.1 and about 2 microns thereon, said coating comprising an anionic fluorosurfactant, said coating being in contact with liquid toner therein.

Abstract: Methods and system incorporating job scheduling to extend the lifetime of an ink sump according to one or more replenishment models in which two replenishing sumps are used to maintain compositional stability in a working ink sump operable in a three subcomponent ink replenishment system. Determinations of failure modes of the toner sump are made and basic principles for replenishment are presented for implementation in a control system operable to enhance ink sump performance and to extend the ink sump lifetime.

Abstract: The invention describes techniques for the electrostatic printing of functional materials configured as liquid toners (45) on glass substrates (26) in a non-contact mode. The toners are patterned by a sensitized electrostatic printing plate (11) of fixed image configuration. Toner images (50) are transferred by an electric field (33) across a fluid filled mechanical gap (42) to the glass substrate (26). Techniques for optimizing the imaging and transfer processes are also disclosed. Two other techniques in which partially finished pieces are manipulated to “self-part” themselves, are described. In both cases defects in the pieces will over print the defect in the “self-healing” mode.

Abstract: A toner for a liquid developer and the like which have low cohesive force and excellent dispersion stability and storage stability and which enable formation of high-quality images and are highly reliable. The toner for a liquid developer comprises an epoxy compound whose epoxy equivalent weight is 1000 or less. An aspect in which the epoxy compound is at least one selected from bisphenol A epoxy resins, novalak epoxy resins, bisphenol F epoxy resins, biphenyl epoxy resins, isocyanate-modified epoxy resins, naphthalene epoxy resins, dicyclo epoxy resins, and brominated epoxy resins, and the like are preferable.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an ink developing solution having a high concentration where a non-volatile carrier is used as a dispersion solvent includes a photosensitive body, a charge unit increasing a potential of the photosensitive body to a charge potential, an exposure unit projecting a beam onto the photosensitive body and forming a latent electrostatic image, a developing solution supply unit supplying a developing solution to the photosensitive body, the developing solution having a high concentration where a non-volatile carrier is used as a dispersion solvent, a developing unit receiving the developing solution having the high concentration to form a developing film having the high concentration and to develop the latent electrostatic image, a transfer unit contacting the photosensitive body and moving the developed image to a recording medium, and a fixing unit fixing the transferred image in the recording medium at a temperature lower than a flash point of the non-vo

Abstract: A developing apparatus for a liquid type printer includes a developing tank in which ink with a high density supplied from an ink supplying unit is received up to a predetermined level. The developing apparatus also includes a developing roller which is positioned to rotate in the developing tank and keep a predetermined developing gap from a photosensitive medium, and to supply the ink to the photosensitive medium. The developing apparatus includes a metering unit which is rotated in the ink in the developing tank to control an amount of the ink conveyed to the developing roller and moved to the developing gap, and a cleaning roller which cleans the ink remaining after the ink is conveyed from the developing roller to the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transferring a developed image from an image bearing member to a receiver substrate in a Contact Electrostatic Printing (CEP) system may be provided according to the present invention. The developed image is formed of a development material having a mixture of carrier fluid and pigmented polymeric particles, the composition of such mixture being selected for its characteristic behavior at an elevated temperature for transitioning to a substantially single phase. The method includes the steps of developing an image onto an image bearer using the aforementioned development material; concentrating the developed image; heating the developed image to a temperature at which the polymeric particles and the carrier fluid achieve a substantially single phase condition, so as to form a transferable image; and transferring the transferable image to a receiver substrate such as a paper sheet.

Abstract: A liquid image forming system including a photosensitive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing roller which forms a contact nip with the photosensitive body, and a metering member which is closely adhered to the developing roller and regulates the developing agent to a predetermined thickness. The system includes an intermediate transfer medium onto which the image formed on the photosensitive body is transferred via a first transfer nip, and a transfer roller which forms a second transfer nip with the transfer medium. A pressure applied to the contact nip is less than 1.2 times a pressure of the metering member on the developing roller. A pressure applied to the first transfer nip is less than 1.2 times the pressure applied to the contact nip. A pressure applied to the second transfer nip is less than 1.5 times the pressure applied to the first transfer nip.

Abstract: A wet electrophotographic printer includes a developing chamber communicating with an inlet of a first nip between a developing roller and a deposit roller to supply a liquid developer into the first nip therebetween, a developer storing chamber communicating with an inlet of a second nip between the developing roller and a metering roller to withdraw the liquid developer of a low density generated at the second nip during a development, and preventing the liquid developer of the low density from being supplied to the first nip, and a developer supply unit disposed below a partition to supply the liquid developer from the developer storing chamber into the developing chamber. The liquid developer of the low density generated at the second nip is not directly supplied to the first nip, but is supplied after being withdrawn to the developer storing chamber and mixed therein.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic developing apparatus including a developing unit with an elongated opening disposed adjacent to a photoreceptor and an air duct provided around the elongated opening. The air flow in the air duct has a predetermined air pressure to hold a liquid developer within a space substantially between the developing unit and the image-bearing surface while permitting toner particles in the liquid developer deposited on the image-bearing surface to be retained by the image—bearing surface and volatile solvent to be vaporized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical unit which forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a photosensitive body, a developing device which supplies a liquid developer on the electrostatic latent image formed by the optical unit, and develops the electrostatic latent image into a develop image, a condensing device which condenses the developer image, and a transfer device which transfers the developer image condensed by the condensing device to a recording medium, while applying a shearing stress to the developer image.

Abstract: A liquid image forming apparatus. A developing unit of the liquid image forming apparatus includes a developing container in which a developer is received, a developing roller having a portion which is dipped in the developer of the developing container, which is installed to be opposite to a photosensitive body, a cleaning roller which cleans the developer remaining on the surface of the developing roller after an electrostatic latent image is developed, and a squeeze roller which squeezes the cleaning roller before the developing roller is cleaned, and passes the air passing through the cleaning roller to the outside. The air passing through the cleaning roller does not pass into the developer and thus bubbles are not generated in the developer, thereby solving a problem of non-uniform developer attachment.

Abstract: Methods and system incorporating job scheduling to extend the lifetime of an ink sump according to one or more replenishment models in which two replenishing sumps are used to maintain compositional stability in a working ink sump operable in a three subcomponent ink replenishment system. Determinations of failure modes of the toner sump are made and basic principles for replenishment are presented for implementation in a control system operable to enhance ink sump performance and to extend the ink sump lifetime.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transferring a developed image from an image bearing member to a receiver substrate in a Contact Electrostatic Printing (CEP) system may be provided according to the present invention. The developed image is formed of a development material having a mixture of carrier fluid and pigmented polymeric particles, the composition of such mixture being selected for its characteristic behavior at an elevated temperature for transitioning to a substantially single phase. The method includes the steps of developing an image onto an image bearer using the aforementioned development material; concentrating the developed image; heating the developed image to a temperature at which the polymeric particles and the carrier fluid achieve a substantially single phase condition, so as to form a transferable image; and transferring the transferable image to a receiver substrate such as a paper sheet.

Abstract: A CPU 113 executes a control program stored in a memory 116 thereby forming a plurality of patch images with a developing bias increased for each of the patch images; detecting a density of each of the patch images by means of a patch sensor 17; and comparing the image densities to determine whether the image density is saturated or not. Then, an image forming condition in which an image density is substantially saturated is determined and is stored in the memory 116. When a print command signal is inputted from an external device via a main controller 100, a printing operation is performed under the image forming condition stored in the memory 116.

Abstract: An excess toner removal area is made broader over the whole area with respect to a developer applied area that is broader than an image effective area. Thereby a liquid developer, that tends to spread slightly broader than the applied area after being applied to a photoreceptor drum, is removed by a sweep roller that can sweep excess toner present in an area broader than the original applied area and an excess toner remaining area is then prevented from being formed on the photoreceptor drum. Accordingly, the excess toner on the latent image carrier is removed as much as possible, and a transfer medium and peripheral members are prevented from being soiled due to residual excess toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to use a highly viscous, dense developing liquid consisting of a carrier liquid and toner. The apparatus includes a developing unit with a developer carrier and a coating member for coating the developing liquid on the developer carrier. The developer carrier conveys the liquid to a developing zone where it faces an image carrier to develop a latent image on the image carrier. In the developing zone, the toner is caused to move toward the image by electrophoresis to form a toner layer in which the toner is present in the carrier liquid and a carrier layer in which the toner is absent. When the developer carrier and image carrier are moved from each other, the toner moves toward the image such that the developing liquid separates at the boundary between the toner and carrier layers.

Abstract: A removal nip having a predetermined width is formed by a sweep roller pressurizing mechanism, which adjusts the length of a tension spring by rotating an adjustment screw, and adjusting the size of an energizing force of a sweep roller with respect to a photosensitive drum. A pressurizing mechanism similar to the sweep roller pressurizing mechanism is also provided in a developing roller, to adjust the energizing force of the developing roller, to thereby form a developing nip having a predetermined width.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the removal or waste or excess ink and a method for disposal of ink from electrophotographic printers comprises providing electrophotographic ink from a source, combining the ink with an absorbable material in a container to form a solid within the container, and closing the container so that the container with the solid inside may be disposed of without ink flowing from the container.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus which form an image on a substrate and uses a liquid developer containing toner particles and a solvent. One embodiment includes a latent image retaining body, a first developing surface facing the latent image retaining body at a first development station, a latent image forming unit, and a second developing surface facing the latent image retaining body at a second development station. The latent image retaining body has a photosensitive layer which has a dielectric constant &egr;P [C2/Nm2] and an average thickness dp [m]. The photosensitive layer retains an image developed by the first developing surface and a latent image comprising image and non-image regions formed by the latent image forming unit. The second developing surface is supplied with a developing electrical potential having an electrical potential difference &Dgr;V from an electrical potential of non-image region of the latent image.

Abstract: A developing unit using a developing liquid and an image forming apparatus including the same are disclosed. The developing unit includes a developing roller made up or a core formed of metal or similar conductive material and a roller portion formed of silicone rubber, urethane rubber or similar elastic material. The roller portion has a volume resistivity ranging from 0 &OHgr;·cm to 107 &OHgr;·cm. The developing roller with this configuration reduces irregular development.

Abstract: An electrode module in the form of a flexible sheet which contacts with a toner layer and to which a bias voltage is applied is provided on a developing roller before development. The electrode module is adapted to separate the toner layer largely into a toner-rich layer and a carrier-rich layer by utilizing electrical migration occurring in the toner layer when an electric field is applied to the toner layer on the basis of the bias voltage. The electrode module is constructed in such a manner that the sheet is pulled toward a surface of the developer bearer body by a force attributable to surface tension or wetting characteristic of the liquid developer existing between the sheet and the developer carrying body, whereby the sheet comes into contact with the surface of the developer bearer body. This electrode construction increases the contact area or nip width of a bias blade provided for the developing roller and enhances its contact stability.

Abstract: A liquid image forming apparatus including a developing portion in which ink is maintained at a uniform level so that the developing roller is dipped at a predetermined level, an ink reservoir in which ink supplied to the developing portion is stored, and an ink supplying unit to supply ink stored in the ink reservoir to the developing portion. The developing portion and the ink reservoir are provided in one developing container, and the ink supplying unit which supplies ink to the developing portion from the ink reservoir is provided in the liquid image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing system of a liquid electrophotographic image forming device. The developing system includes a development container in which a developer is stored, a development roller which rotates opposite to a photosensitive body, and being partially soaked in the development container, and a metering blade. The metering blade has a first face contacting the circumference of the development roller and a second face by which a predetermined angle is formed with respect to the first face, which maintains a developer layer on the circumference of the development roller at a predetermined thickness. By optimizing related parameters of the metering blade, the developer layer on the development roller can be regulated, thereby achieving good image quality.

Abstract: A system and method for recycling used hydrocarbon-based carrier liquid removes contaminants from the used carrier liquid and monitors an electrical property of the output carrier liquid so that the carrier liquid can be reused in a predefined application, such as an electrostatic imaging process. The system and method may be integrated into an electrostatic imaging machine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner recycling control system which stably feeds a liquid developer of an appropriate concentration to a liquid developing apparatus employing a high-viscosity liquid developer; appropriately adjusts the concentration of residual developer collected after development and after transfer; and feeds the adjusted developer to the developing apparatus. The toner recycling control system collects a post-development residual developer from a developer-bearing body and a post-transfer residual developer from an image-bearing body; performs developer concentration adjustment to yield an adjusted developer; and feeds the adjusted developer back to the developer-bearing body.

Abstract: A development system is provided that extends the functionality of liquid developer to produce custom colors and combines it with a powder development engine to enable custom color printing. This invention provides a apparatus and method, control scheme, hardware, and software, necessary for enabling custom color printing using an electrophotograpic hybrid technology.

Abstract: A liquid image forming system including a photosensitive body on which-an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing roller which forms a contact nip with the photosensitive body and develops the electrostatic latent image with a developing agent having a predetermined color, and a metering member which is closely adhered to the developing roller and regulates the developing agent stained on the outer surface of the developing roller to a predetermined thickness. The system further includes an intermediate transfer medium onto which the image formed on the photosensitive body is transferred via a first transfer nip, and a transfer roller which forms a second transfer nip with the intermediate transfer medium and transfers the image onto a printing medium passing between the intermediate transfer medium and the second transfer nip, from the intermediate transfer medium. A pressure applied to the contact nip is less than 1.2 times a pressure of the metering member on the developing roller.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for a liquid type printer includes a developing tank in which ink with a high density supplied from an ink supplying unit is received up to a predetermined level. The developing apparatus also includes a developing roller which is positioned to rotate in the developing tank and keep a predetermined developing gap from a photosensitive medium, and to supply the ink to the photosensitive medium. The developing apparatus includes a metering unit which is rotated in the ink in the developing tank to control an amount of the ink conveyed to the developing roller and moved to the developing gap, and a cleaning roller which cleans the ink remaining after the ink is conveyed from the developing roller to the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: A liquid image forming apparatus including a developing portion in which ink is maintained at a uniform level so that the developing roller is dipped at a predetermined level, an ink reservoir in which ink supplied to the developing portion is stored, and an ink supplying unit to supply ink stored in the ink reservoir to the developing portion. The developing portion and the ink reservoir are provided in one developing container, and the ink supplying unit which supplies ink to the developing portion from the ink reservoir is provided in the liquid image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus prevents developer wraparound in a wet electrophotographic printer using wraparound preventing units. Each of the wraparound preventing units has varied diameter parts formed at both ends of a developing roller, and matching parts formed at both ends of a metering roller to correspond to the varied diameter parts of the developing roller. Since the varied diameter parts and the matching parts are respectively installed at both ends of the developing roller and the metering roller, developer wraparound is not generated in the developing roller and a photosensitive roller during development.

Abstract: An electrophotographic liquid developer includes a carrier liquid and toner particles. The toner particles include a colorant and a resin component and are dispersed in the carrier liquid. The resin component includes a polyester resin as a main component. When 0.3 g of the liquid developer is dropped on a filter paper (which is defined in JIS P 3801) from a point of 10 mm height, the carrier liquid diffuses in the filter paper at a speed not lower than 1 mm/minute.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for printing an image on a print medium with a liquid developer which includes a liquid carrier and a toner dispersed in the liquid carrier. The image is printed by forming a toner image having the toner from the liquid developer, and transferring the toner image to the print medium under pressure. By adjusting a complex viscosity coefficient of the toner forming the toner image to be transferred to a value satisfying the formula: 1×104<&eegr;<1×106, wherein &eegr; represents the complex viscosity coefficient (Pa·s) of the toner, the toner image to be transferred to the print medium is controlled.

Abstract: A liquid image forming apparatus. A developing unit of the liquid image forming apparatus includes a developing container in which a developer is received, a developing roller having a portion which is dipped in the developer of the developing container, which is installed to be opposite to a photosensitive body, a cleaning roller which cleans the developer remaining on the surface of the developing roller after an electrostatic latent image is developed, and a squeeze roller which squeezes the cleaning roller before the developing roller is cleaned, and passes the air passing through the cleaning roller to the outside. The air passing through the cleaning roller does not pass into the developer and thus bubbles are not generated in the developer, thereby solving a problem of non-uniform developer attachment. 1293.

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: An image forming apparatus of the present invention having a transferring particle layer forming equipment which forms a transferring particle layer prior to forming a toner layer on a surface of an image recording member, whose coagulation force among the transferring particles in the transferring particle layer is smaller than adhesive force of the transferring particle layer to the image recording member, a development equipment which forms a toner layer on a surface of the image recording member according to image information with a liquid developer in a manner that a part of the toner layer is superimposed on the transferring particle layer and a transfer equipment which transfer the toner layer to a transfer medium together with a part of the transferring particle layer. As a result, high transfer efficiency can be obtained, and an image forming apparatus which realizes high image quality is provided.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus which form an image on a substrate and uses a liquid developer containing toner particles and a solvent. One embodiment includes a latent image retaining body, a first developing surface facing the latent image retaining body at a first development station, a latent image forming unit, and a second developing surface facing the latent image retaining body at a second development station. The latent image retaining body has a photosensitive layer which has a dielectric constant &egr;P [C2/Nm2] and an average thickness dp [m]. The photosensitive layer retains an image developed by the first developing surface and a latent image comprising image and non-image regions formed by the latent image forming unit. The second developing surface is supplied with a developing electrical potential having an electrical potential difference &Dgr;V from an electrical potential of non-image region of the latent image.

Abstract: A liquid developer electrophotographic apparatus and method for developing one or more successive color images on a previous color image formed on a latent image retaining body, wherein peeling off the prior color image is prevented by establishing a reversible electrophoretic transfer efficiency of toner particles in the prior toner image to be not greater than 60% in the liquid developer for the successive color image while applying an electrical potential difference between the latent image retaining body and a developing electrode for the successive developing step(s). A resin content of the toner particles forming the previous color image may be selected to achieve the reversible electrophoretic transfer efficiency of 60% or less.

Abstract: An excess toner removal area is made broader over the whole area with respect to a developer applied area that is broader than an image effective area. Thereby a liquid developer, that tends to spread slightly broader than the applied area after being applied to a photoreceptor drum, is removed by a sweep roller that can sweep excess toner present in an area broader than the original applied area and an excess toner remaining area is then prevented from being formed on the photoreceptor drum. Accordingly, the excess toner on the latent image carrier is removed as much as possible, and a transfer medium and peripheral members are prevented from being soiled due to residual excess toner.

Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a developing liquid containing a carrier liquid and a developing substance, including a developing roller including a roller portion and rotatable while carrying the developing liquid on the roller portion, and a voltage applying device configured to apply a voltage to the roller portion to thereby form an electric field for development between the roller portion and the image carrier, whereby the developing liquid deposited on the roller portion is transferred to a latent image formed on the image carrier. The roller portion has a volume resistivity ranging from 0 &OHgr;cm to 107 &OHgr;cm.

Abstract: This invention related to a developing unit for maintaining constant density in an electrophotographic imaging process, said developing unit comprising:

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: A device for electrographic printing or copying has an applicator element (26, 26a), which supports a layer (48, 72) of the ink. An air gap (L) is provided between the liquid layer (48, 72) and the surface of the latent image support (12), said surface being located opposite the liquid layer. In order to ink the latent image on the latent image support (12), droplets (50) are transferred from the liquid layer (48, 72) to the surface of the latent image support (12) while passing through the air gap (L). An alternating field of force (an electric or acoustic alternating field), which acts upon the liquid layer, is provided in the air gap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner recycling control system which stably feeds a liquid developer of an appropriate concentration to a liquid developing apparatus employing a high-viscosity liquid developer; appropriately adjusts the concentration of residual developer collected after development and after transfer; and feeds the adjusted developer to the developing apparatus. The toner recycling control system collects a post-development residual developer from a developer-bearing body and a post-transfer residual developer from an image-bearing body; performs developer concentration adjustment to yield an adjusted developer; and feeds the adjusted developer back to the developer-bearing body.

Abstract: An imaging system for effecting electrostatic printing of an image, wherein the imaging system includes an electrostatic printing engine operable in a novel fashion upon a copy substrate, for imaging and development of an electrostatic latent image representative of the image, and subsequently transfers the developed image to the copy substrate. A quantity of low solids content liquid developing material is subject to compression in a process nip such that the concentration of marking particles therein increases and the concentration of carrier fluid decreases. A toner cake layer is thereby formed in the process nip, and is used for development of the electrostatic latent image in a development zone situated in the process nip.

Abstract: A method of preventing a flow pattern in a wet-type color image forming apparatus and a system adopting the same includes a material layer directly contacting a developing roller of a developing unit of a photosensitive body of the image forming apparatus and having a thickness of 7-15 &mgr;. A size of an essential composition used for representing corresponding one of colors in high-concentration ink is 0.7-1.5 &mgr;m. A hold up volume is not formed between the developing roller and the photosensitive body during a developing process, and a flow pattern such as a stripe, is not formed in a final image, and even though the flow pattern is formed in the final image, the flow pattern can be minimized.

Abstract: There is described an applicator element for providing a layer of a liquid ink, in particular for inking a latent image carrier of a device for electrographic printing or copying, the surface of the applicator element (26) having a structure with a plurality of areas (78, 80, 86, 88), at which the detachment of droplets from the liquid layer is facilitated.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an ink developing solution having a high concentration where a non-volatile carrier is used as a dispersion solvent includes a photosensitive body, a charge unit increasing a potential of the photosensitive body to a charge potential, an exposure unit projecting a beam onto the photosensitive body and forming a latent electrostatic image, a developing solution supply unit supplying a developing solution to the photosensitive body, the developing solution having a high concentration where a non-volatile carrier is used as a dispersion solvent, a developing unit receiving the developing solution having the high concentration to form a developing film having the high concentration and to develop the latent electrostatic image, a transfer unit contacting the photosensitive body and moving the developed image to a recording medium, and a fixing unit fixing the transferred image in the recording medium at a temperature lower than a flash point of the non-vo

Abstract: A toner for a liquid developer and the like which have low cohesive force and excellent dispersion stability and storage stability and which enable formation of high-quality images and are highly reliable. The toner for a liquid developer comprises an epoxy compound whose epoxy equivalent weight is 1000 or less. An aspect in which the epoxy compound is at least one selected from bisphenol A epoxy resins, novalak epoxy resins, bisphenol F epoxy resins, biphenyl epoxy resins, isocyanate-modified epoxy resins, naphthalene epoxy resins, dicyclo epoxy resins, and brominated epoxy resins, and the like are preferable.

Abstract: A liquid developer electrophotographic apparatus and method for developing one or more successive color images on a previous color image formed on a latent image retaining body, wherein peeling off the previous color image is prevented by establishing a reversible electrophoretic transfer efficiency of toner particles in the previous toner image to be not greater than 60% in the liquid developer for the successive color image while applying an electrical potential difference between the latent image retaining body and a developing electrode for the successive developing step(s). A resin content and composition of the toner particles forming the previous color image may be selected to achieve the reversible electrophoretic transfer efficiency of 60% or less.