Abstract: A wet image forming device includes a plurality of developer support members that support a developer including a toner and a carrier functioning as a toner transfer agent, a plurality of image support members, the outer peripheral surfaces of each contacting the plurality of developer support members, and which support an electrostatic latent image developed with toner included in the developer supported by the plurality of developer support members, an intermediate transfer member to which an image developed on each of the plurality of image support members is transferred, a transfer roller that is pressed into contact with each of the plurality of image support members through the intermediate transfer member, and one or more carrier removing members that remove the carrier and arranged between a first image support member that is one of the plurality of image support members and a second image support member that is located adjacent to the first image support member.

Abstract: Provided are a light-emitting portion 101 having a light-emitting member 104 and a light emergence surface 112a through which light from the light-emitting member 104 emerges, and a light-receiving portion 102 having a light incidence surface 122a through which the light from the light-emitting member 104 enters and a light-receiving member 105 that detects the light entering through the light incidence surface 122a. The light-emitting portion 101 and the light-receiving portion 102 can make relative movement between a measurement position in which the light emergence surface 112a and the light incidence surface 122a make contact with each other and a waiting position in which the light emergence surface 112a is away from the light incidence surface 122a. The light emergence surface 112a is a spherical surface protruding outward, and the light incidence surface 122a is planar in shape.

Abstract: In the intermediate transfer belt of the present invention, a toner image formed on a plurality of photoreceptors is transferred and temporarily retained. The intermediate transfer belt comprises a reinforcing layer to reinforce the intermediate transfer belt and a surface protection layer that is stacked on the reinforcing layer through a middle layer and contacts the photoreceptors. The reinforcing layer and the surface protection layer have a larger value of surface resistance than a value of volume resistance of the whole belt. This makes it possible to prevent electric charge (voltage) from flowing out to rollers and image forming units and put proper electric charge (voltage) on the intermediate transfer belt. Preferably, the values of surface resistance of the reinforcing layer and the surface protection layer are 1×1010 to 1×1014 ?/? and the value of volume resistance of the whole intermediate transfer belt is less than 1×1010 ?·cm.

Abstract: A liquid-level detection device detects the liquid level in the developer storing container for storing liquid developer, and includes a first water wheel, a first rotation detection mechanism, and first liquid-level detection device. The first water wheel is disposed in the interior of the developer storing container, and is configured to be rotated by liquid developer to be supplied to the developer storing container. The first rotation detection mechanism is configured to detect a rotation state of the first water wheel. The first liquid-level detection device detects the liquid level of liquid developer based on a result detected by the rotation detection mechanism.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a traveling belt and a belt cleaning member. The traveling belt is formed in a loop and travels via the vicinity of the contact point between an image support member and an image support member cleaning member, and comes into contact with liquid developer stored in the cleaning unit. The belt cleaning member is in contact with the traveling belt and arranged in a position downstream of the contact point between the traveling belt and liquid developer stored in the cleaning unit, and upstream of the point at which the traveling belt passes the vicinity of the contact point between the image support member and the image support member cleaning member in the traveling direction of the traveling belt. The belt cleaning member is configured to remove liquid developer attached to the traveling belt.

Abstract: A concentration detection device includes a tubular member, a light-emitting member, and a light-receiving member. The tubular member includes a liquid developer inlet that inlets liquid developer, and a liquid developer outlet that discharges the liquid developer. A liquid channel through which liquid developer passes is formed in the interior of the tubular member. The light-emitting member is a member that is disposed on one end of the tubular member. The light-receiving member receives light emitted from the light-emitting member that detects concentration of the liquid developer that is inlet into the interior of the tubular member.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt for an image forming device includes a laminated body including at least two layers. At least one layer of the laminated body is an elastic layer including cells that are preferably interconnected cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developing unit 6 including a tank containing a liquid toner, a pick-up roller 10 for drawing the liquid toner from the tank, an application roller 11 whose circumferential surface 11a is supplied with the liquid toner by the pick-up roller 10, and a developing roller 12 whose circumferential surface 12a is applied with the liquid toner by the application roller 11. The pick-up roller 10 and the application roller 11 are arranged in parallel to each other and circumferential surfaces 10a, 11a thereof are in contact with each other. The circumferential surfaces 10a, 11a of the pick-up roller 10 and the application roller 11 are formed with a plurality of grooves 13, 14, respectively, which extend continuously in the axial direction X1.

Abstract: A liquid volume detector for detecting the volume of a liquid in a container is provided with a liquid level detecting member which is arranged at a specified height position in the container and on which a load acts by the liquid when the liquid level in the container is located at the specified height position, and a first drive source connected to the liquid level detecting member for moving the liquid level detecting member.

Abstract: A seal member 264 prevents the leakage of toner to the side of a photosensitive drum 10 when cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 of a color printer 1, and has a contact portion 264a and a movement control portion 264b. The contact portion 264a, through which developer is unable to pass, is able to deform elastically in a direction, and to approach and to separate from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, able to be in line contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 such that developer is unable to pass between the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and the contact portion 264a. The movement control portion 264b is connected to the contact portion 264a, and configured to control the movement of the seal member 264 with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10 of the contact portion 264a.

Abstract: Of carrier liquids extracted by an carrier liquid extracting device from a liquid developer obtained by mixing together yellow, cyan, magenta, and black liquid developers, the carrier liquid of particularly high purity is recycled for concentration control of the yellow liquid developer and the carrier liquid of purity a little lower than the aforementioned purity is recycled for concentration control of the cyan, magenta, and black liquid developers. A carrier liquid extracted from the yellow liquid developer is recycled for the concentration control of the yellow liquid developer, and a carrier liquid extracted from the liquid developer obtained by mixing together the cyan, magenta, and black liquid developers is recycled for the concentration control of the cyan, magenta, and black liquid developers. This permits efficient use of carrier liquids to be recycled without having an influence on the image quality.

Abstract: When the temperature of the liquid toner has fluctuated by T1 or more (Step S3: YES), the equation obtained by measuring the liquid toner is modified (Steps S4 through S7). This equation is obtained based on the output voltage value of the concentrated toner liquid sensor 27, which has the same specifications as those of the liquid toner sensor 24, and the output voltage value of the carrier liquid sensor 29, which has the same specifications as those of the liquid toner sensor 24 (S4 through S6). The output voltage value of the liquid toner sensor 24 is entered into the modified equation to calculate the toner solids content of the liquid toner of the storage tank 18 (Step S8). Control of the concentration of the liquid toner is carried out based on the calculated toner solids content (Step S9).

Abstract: Disclosed is a developing unit 6 including a tank containing a liquid toner, a pick-up roller 10 for drawing the liquid toner from the tank, an application roller 11 whose circumferential surface 11a is supplied with the liquid toner by the pick-up roller 10, and a developing roller 12 whose circumferential surface 12a is applied with the liquid toner by the application roller 11. The pick-up roller 10 and the application roller 11 are arranged in parallel to each other and circumferential surfaces 10a, 11a thereof are in contact with each other. The circumferential surfaces 10a, 11a of the pick-up roller 10 and the application roller 11 are formed with a plurality of grooves 13, 14, respectively, which extend continuously in the axial direction X1.

Abstract: A wet image forming device includes a plurality of developer support members that support a developer including a toner and a carrier functioning as a toner transfer agent, a plurality of image support members, the outer peripheral surfaces of each contacting the plurality of developer support members, and which support an electrostatic latent image developed with toner included in the developer supported by the plurality of developer support members, an intermediate transfer member to which an image developed on each of the plurality of image support members is transferred, a transfer roller that is pressed into contact with each of the plurality of image support members through the intermediate transfer member, and one or more carrier removing members that remove the carrier and arranged between a first image support member that is one of the plurality of image support members and a second image support member that is located adjacent to the first image support member.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a developing unit that can block unnecessary supply of liquid developer to an image support member and can prevent waste of liquid developer, and an image forming device comprising the same. The developing unit includes a developing member that is in contact with an image support member and supplies the image support member with liquid developer, a developer supply member that supplies the developing member with liquid developer, and an unattached region forming member that forms at least an unattached region that is free of liquid developer on the developing member, the unattached region extending from the contact point between the developing member and the image support member and the contact point between the developing member and the developer supply member.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a traveling belt and a belt cleaning member. The traveling belt is formed in a loop and travels via the vicinity of the contact point between an image support member and an image support member cleaning member, and comes into contact with liquid developer stored in the cleaning unit. The belt cleaning member is in contact with the traveling belt and arranged in a position downstream of the contact point between the traveling belt and liquid developer stored in the cleaning unit, and upstream of the point at which the traveling belt passes the vicinity of the contact point between the image support member and the image support member cleaning member in the traveling direction of the traveling belt. The belt cleaning member is configured to remove liquid developer attached to the traveling belt.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt for an image forming device comprises a laminated body including at least two layers. At least one layer of the laminated body is an elastic layer including cells that are preferably interconnected cells.

Abstract: In the intermediate transfer belt of the present invention, a toner image formed on a plurality of photoreceptors is transferred and temporarily retained. The intermediate transfer belt comprises a reinforcing layer to reinforce the intermediate transfer belt and a surface protection layer that is stacked on the reinforcing layer through a middle layer and contacts the photoreceptors. The reinforcing layer and the surface protection layer have a larger value of surface resistance than a value of volume resistance of the whole belt. This makes it possible to prevent electric charge (voltage) from flowing out to rollers and image forming units and put proper electric charge (voltage) on the intermediate transfer belt. Preferably, the values of surface resistance of the reinforcing layer and the surface protection layer are 1×1010 to 1×1014 ?/? and the value of volume resistance of the whole intermediate transfer belt is less than 1×1010 ?·cm.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition comprising (a) 5 to 40% by weight of a rubber-modified styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer resin and (b) 95 to 60% by weight of a polycarbonate resin as main components.