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: An image forming apparatus has a conveying element for conveying a sheet, an image forming section for forming an image on the sheet with liquid developer, and a fixing device including a rubbing mechanism for rubbing the image on the sheet. A fixing device has a rubbing mechanism for rubbing an image which is formed with liquid developer.

Abstract: In order to prevent the occurrence of bleeding in a nip between a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer body or a nip between the photoreceptor and a sheet, which is a problem in a wet developing method, the present disclosure provides a liquid developer that includes an electrically insulating carrier liquid and colored particles dispersed within the carrier liquid, further contains an organic polymer compound, and has a viscosity of 30 to 400 mPa·s at a measurement temperature of 25° C.

Abstract: A liquid developer containing an electrically insulating carrier fluid and colored particles dispersed in the carrier fluid and a wet-type image forming apparatus using this liquid developer are provided, with the colored particles being pigments and this liquid developer containing at least one selected from a group consisting of styrene elastomer, polyvinyl butyral, cyclic olefin copolymer and cellulose ether. Additionally, a liquid developer containing an electrically insulating carrier fluid, colored particles dispersed in the carrier fluid, and an organic macromolecular compound for fixing the colored particles to a recording medium and a wet-type image forming apparatus using this liquid developer are provided, with the organic macromolecular compound being dissolved in the carrier fluid and the colored particles being pigments.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes: a developer accumulation portion; a developer drawing-up portion that draws up the liquid developer accumulated in the developer accumulation portion; a developing roller that supplies the liquid developer to the image supporting body in a region facing the image supporting body; a developer removing portion that is disposed to contact a predetermined position on a surface of the developing roller on a downstream side to the region facing the image supporting body in a rotational direction of the developing roller, and removes the liquid developer remaining on the surface of the developing roller; and an accumulated developer delivery portion that delivers the liquid developer accumulated in the developer accumulation portion to a predetermined region on the surface of the developing roller between the region facing the image supporting body and the predetermined position contacting the developer removing portion.

Abstract: A seal member 264 prevents leakage of developer 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: 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: 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: 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: Provided are a light-emitting portion having a light-emitting member and a light emergence surface through which light from the light-emitting member emerges, and a light-receiving portion having a light incidence surface through which the light from the light-emitting member enters and a light-receiving member that detects the light entering through the light incidence surface. The light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion can make relative movement between a measurement position in which the light emergence surface and the light incidence surface make contact with each other and a waiting position in which the light emergence surface is away from the light incidence surface. When the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion are in the measurement position, the light emergence surface and the light incidence surface make contact with each other at a point.

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: 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: 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).