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: 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: A device for coating a developing liquid included in an developing device of the present invention includes a coating member rotatable with the developing liquid deposited thereon in a preselected amount. An intermediate member has a surface contacting the surface of the coating member and is movable at the same speed and in the same direction as the surface of the coating member. Also, the surface of the intermediate member contacts the surface of a developing roller to be coated with the developing liquid and is movable in the opposite direction to the surface of the developing roller.

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: An image forming apparatus of the present invention uses a highly viscous, dense developing liquid consisting of a carrier liquid and toner dispersed therein. A developing unit includes 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 thereby develop a latent image formed on the image carrier with the liquid. In the developing zone, the toner in the liquid, which faces the image of the image carrier, is caused to move toward the image by electrophoresis to thereby form a toner layer in which the toner is present in the carrier liquid and a carrier layer in which the toner is absent in the same. When the developer carrier and image carrier moved away from the developing zone part from each other, the toner is caused to move toward the image over a degree at which the developing liquid can separate at the boundary between the toner layer and the carrier layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a developing device that can deposit a developing liquid on a liquid carrier in a form of a thin layer, causing the thin layer to contact an image carrier of the image forming apparatus. A liquid carrier is in contact with the image carrier to carry the thin layer of the developing liquid to the image carrier. A thin layer contact member contacts the thin layer formed on the liquid carrier at a position upstream of where the liquid carrier and the image carrier contact each other in a direction in which the liquid carrier is movable, to apply a shearing force to the thin layer. Further, the thin layer contact member includes a rotary member with a movable surface that rotates, at a position where the rotary member faces the liquid carrier, in a rotating direction opposite to the rotation direction in which the liquid carrier is movable.

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: A developing device of the type using a developing liquid and applicable to an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller and a sweep roller. The developing roller is pressed against a photoconductive drum to thereby form a nip. The sweep roller is positioned downstream of the nip in the direction of rotation of the drum and pressed against the drum in such a manner as to sandwich a developed toner layer. The surface of the sweep roller moves at substantially the same speed as the surface of the drum. A bias voltage (250 V) close to the surface potential (100 V to 200 V) of the toner layer formed on the drum is applied to the sweep roller. The bias causes the sweep roller to attract stray excess toner present on the background of the drum after development, thereby preventing a toner image from being blurred.

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, a developing device and a program recording medium capable of reducing short image density, background contamination and short image sharpness ascribable to the use of a developing liquid whose viscosity characteristic is dependent on a shearing force. Before an applicator roller included in a developing device starts rotating for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductive drum, screws disposed in a liquid storing portion start rotating.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a developing device and a program recording medium capable of reducing short image density, background contamination and short image sharpness ascribable to the use of a developing liquid whose viscosity characteristic is dependent on a shearing force. Before an applicator roller included in a developing device starts rotating for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductive drum, screws disposed in a liquid storing portion start rotating.

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: A developing device of the type using a developing liquid and applicable to an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller and a sweep roller. The developing roller is pressed against a photoconductive drum to thereby form a nip. The sweep roller is positioned downstream of the nip in the direction of rotation of the drum and pressed against the drum in such a manner as to sandwich a developed toner layer. The surface of the sweep roller moves at substantially the same speed as the surface of the drum. A bias voltage (250 V) close to the surface potential (100 V to 200 V) of the toner layer formed on the drum is applied to the sweep roller. The bias causes the sweep roller to attract stray excess toner present on the background of the drum after development, thereby preventing a toner image from being blurred.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a developing device includes a reservoir storing a viscous and dense developing liquid. A developing sleeve, an applicator roller, a circulation pump for circulating the liquid and a screw for agitating the liquid are disposed in the reservoir. The reservoir is open only at its portion where the developing sleeve contacts an image carrier. The liquid is agitated by the screw before flowing into the circulation pump and then applied to the applicator roller. As a result, the liquid is fed to the developing sleeve via the applicator roller with a uniform toner content. The apparatus is small size and stably forms high quality images.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type depositing a developing liquid on a developing sleeve in the form of a thin layer, developing a latent image formed on a photoconductive element with the liquid and transferring the resulting toner image to a recording medium is disclosed. The developing sleeve is implemented as a conductive hollow tubular member. A drive roller is rotatably disposed in the bore of the developing sleeve and extends in the axial direction of the sleeve. A cleaning blade is pressed against the outer periphery of the sleeve for pressing the drive roller via the sleeve. The drive roller and cleaning blade cooperate to cause the sleeve to rotate. An applicator roller applies the liquid to the outer periphery of the sleeve. An electric field for development is formed in a developing region between the photoconductive drum and the sleeve. The liquid is transferred from the sleeve to the latent image formed on the drum for thereby developing it.

Abstract: A density regulating apparatus includes a rotatable container for containing developing liquid and a rotating unit for rotating the container. The rotatable container when rotated generates a centrifugal force exerted on the developing liquid contained in the container so as to separate the developing liquid into a plurality of portions.

Abstract: A wet-type image forming apparatus produces a high-quality toner image by condensing a toner image on a photosensitive drum and adhering the toner image onto the photosensitive drum without contacting a liquid carrier applied on the photosensitive drum. The photosensitive drum carries a latent image formed thereon. The toner image is formed by developing the latent image by using a developing liquid including the liquid carrier and toner dispersed in the liquid carrier. An excessive amount of liquid carrier on the photosensitive drum is removed after the toner image is formed. An electric field is formed which causes a current to flow between an electrically conductive member and the photosensitive drum. An air gap is formed between the liquid carrier on the photosensitive drum and the electrically conductive member so that the current flows through the gap, the liquid carrier and the toner image.