Abstract: A liquid developing method that uses a highly-concentrated liquid developing agent to develop an electrostatic latent image. A highly-concentrated liquid developing agent with a viscosity of 100 to 1,000 mPa.s can be used. Therefore, a film of developing agent from 5 to 40 &mgr;m thick can be formed on the surface of the developing roller or developing belt and this provides a soft contact with the photosensitive member surface where the electrostatic latent image has been formed. If the surface of the photosensitive member does not have good release properties, a film of pre-wet liquid can be formed on the surface of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A multi-color image formation apparatus that has multiple developed image formation devices, each corresponding to one color. Each of the developed image formation devices has a photosensitive member, charging apparatus that charges the photosensitive member, exposure apparatus that exposes the charged photosensitive member, and developing apparatus that supplies highly viscous and highly concentrated color liquid developing agent to the surface of the latent image on the photosensitive member. Each of the developed image formation devices is provided with transfer apparatus that sequentially transfers the developed images, each of which has been formed on the surface of the latent imgae on one of the photosensitive members, to the paper transported by the transfer belt and thereby forms a color image on the paper. An electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member such that a developed image corresponding to the desired print image remains on the developing agent bearing member.

Abstract: A liquid developing method and a liquid developing apparatus that use a highly-concentrated liquid developing agent to develop an electrostatic latent imageA highly-concentrated liquid developing agent with a viscosity of 100 to 1,000 mPa.s can be used. Therefore, a film of developing agent from 5 to 40 .mu.m thick can be formed on the surface of the developing roller or developing belt (510) and this provides a soft contact with the photosensitive member surface where the electrostatic latent image has been formed. If the surface of the photosensitive member does not have good release properties, a film of pre-wet liquid can be formed on the surface of the photosensitive member (10).

Abstract: A platen for a thermal transfer printer includes a support and a platen body mounted on the support and made of an elastic material. The platen body has a first layer located on a thermal printer head side and having a high hardness and a second layer having a hardness lower than that of the first layer. The hardness of the first layer is a JIS A hardness of 60 to 100. The front layer is treated such that a surface roughness of the first layer is not more than 30 .mu.m and a friction coefficient of a surface thereof is small.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes a head holding member for holding a printing head and for applying an urging force for urging the printing head against a platen and separating the printing head from the platen. An elastic member biases the head holding member to urge the printing head against the platen. A regulating member regulates displacement of the elastic member to change the urging force of the printing head against the platen. A driving unit drives the regulating member. A detecting unit detects either one or both of the type of ink ribbon or the surface roughness of recording paper. A control unit controls the driving unit in accordance with the result of the detecting unit. The urging force of the printing head is thus changed in accordance with either one or both of the type of ink ribbon or the surface roughness of the recording paper.

Abstract: A platen for a thermal transfer printer includes a support and a platen body mounted on the support and made of an elastic material. The platen body has a first layer located on a thermal printer head side and having a high hardness and a second layer having a hardness lower than that of the first layer. The hardness of the first layer is a JIS a hardness of 60 to 100. The front layer is treated such that a surface roughness of the first layer is not more than 30 .mu.m and a friction coefficient of a surface thereof is small.