Abstract: In one embodiment, an image developer includes a developer roller rotatable along a photoconductor for presenting a layer of ink to the photoconductor and a cleaner for cleaning ink from the developer roller. The cleaner includes a first cleaning roller rotatable along the developer roller for removing ink from the developer roller and a second cleaning roller rotatable against the first cleaning roller for mechanically removing ink from the first cleaning roller. In one embodiment, the second cleaning roller deforms against the first cleaning roller such that the cross-sectional length of contact between the first and second cleaning rollers is in the range of 20% to 38% of the circumference of the first cleaning roller. In one embodiment, the second cleaning roller has a density in the range of 90 kg/m3 to 150 kg/m3.

Abstract: A control method and an image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes a latent image carrier; a development apparatus for developing a liquid developer containing a toner, a carrier liquid and a dispersant soluble in the carrier liquid therein on the latent image carrier; an intermediate transfer medium to which a developer image developed on the latent image carrier is transferred; a transfer apparatus for transferring the developer image on the intermediate transfer medium to a transfer material; and a dispersant collecting liquid application unit for applying a dispersant collecting liquid on the intermediate transfer medium. The method includes performing the control such that after finishing of transfer of the developer image onto intermediate transfer medium, application of the dispersant collecting liquid on the intermediate transfer medium is started by the dispersant collecting liquid application unit.

Abstract: The present invention teaches and claims an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming portion using a liquid developer having a carrier liquid and toner; an intermediate transfer section which has an endless belt and a plurality of rotating bodies; a second transfer roller which is disposed so that it faces one of the plurality of rotating bodies and abuts the endless belt; a first bias applying section which is connected to the second transfer roller and applies a transfer bias to the second-transfer roller when the second transfer is done and applies a reverse transfer bias having an opposite electric polarity as the transfer bias to the second transfer roller when the second transfer is not performed; and a second bias applying section which is connected to the rotating body facing the second transfer roller and applies a bias to the rotating body facing the second transfer roller.

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 liquid developer collection apparatus and an image forming apparatus can prevent image disturbances and also disturbances of the toner particles on the image section that can be produced by squeezing. The liquid developer collection apparatus includes a first squeezing section 113aY that squeeze a liquid developer on an image carrier carrying an image developed by the liquid developer containing carrier liquid and toner particles, and a second squeezing section 113bY arranged vertically above the first squeezing section 113aY to squeeze the image carrier squeezed by the first squeezing section 113aY, and the liquid developer collected by the second squeezing section 113bY is made to fall free onto the first squeezing section 113aY and collected.

Abstract: In a device or method to develop potential images of images to be printed, the potential images being generated on an intermediate image carrier using developer fluid having a charged toner and carrier fluid, developing with an applicator device the potential images, the applicator device directing the developer fluid across the intermediate image carrier. With the feed device the developer fluid is supplied to the applicator device, the feed device discharging excess developer fluid depleted of toner and that is not transferred to the applicator device. With a conditioning device the carrier fluid is taken from the applicator device and the taken up carrier fluid is discharged. With a cleaning device residual developer fluid remaining after development of the potential images is cleaned off of the applicator device and the residual developer fluid is supplied to a chamber arranged in the cleaning device.

Abstract: A liquid developer collecting system includes a developing roller cleaning unit that collects liquid developer on a developing roller; a developer storage unit that stores the liquid developer collected by the developing roller cleaning unit; and a concentration control unit that stores the liquid developer fed from the developer storage unit and controls the concentration of the liquid developer.

Abstract: A liquid developer collecting system. A developing unit has a developing roller. A developing roller cleaning unit collects liquid developer on the developing roller. A concentration control unit stores liquid developer collected by the developing roller cleaning unit and controls the concentration of the liquid developer. A first feed unit feeds the liquid developer in the concentration control unit to the developing unit. A second feed unit feeds the liquid developer in the concentration control unit. A developer storage unit stores the liquid developer fed by the second feed unit.

Abstract: A liquid developer collecting system. A collection section collects liquid developer from a photosensitive body. A storage section stores liquid developer collected by the collection section. A first feed unit feeds liquid developer from the storage section to a concentration control unit.

Abstract: A system and method for determining LEP ink conductivity are provided. A pair of electrodes is arranged to define a narrow gap there between. A non-conductive propeller rotates within the gap and causes liquid ink to flow over respective planar surfaces of the electrodes. The rotating propeller further prevents the accumulation of ink sludge on the planar surfaces of the electrodes within the gap. Electrical current is conducted between the electrodes. The electrical current is measured and the conductivity value of the ink determined there from.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an alternating-current high-voltage power supply generating an alternating-current bias for detection of the remaining amount of toner. The alternating-current high-voltage power supply includes a piezoelectric transformer, a piezoelectric-transformer driving unit, a piezoelectric-transformer driving-signal generating unit, a voltage detecting unit, a voltage setting unit, and an controlling unit that feeds back a difference signal between a detection level signal supplied from a detection signal detecting unit and a setting signal supplied from the voltage setting unit to the piezoelectric-transformer driving-signal generating unit to control an output voltage from the piezoelectric-transformer.

Abstract: To provide a photocurable liquid developer including colored resin particles, and an electrically insulating liquid that cures by light, wherein the electrically insulating liquid contains an unsaturated group-containing silicone compound represented by General Formula (1) below, where R independently denotes a methyl group or a phenyl group, l and m each independently denote an integer of 0 to 100, and X1, X2 and X3 each independently denote a C1-C6 alkyl group or Substituent A below, with at least one of X1, X2 and X3 being Substituent A, where R denotes a methyl group or a phenyl group, and n denotes an integer of 2 or 3.

Abstract: A liquid developer contains a liquid insulator formed of a liquid hydrocarbon, toner particles formed by chemically modifying surfaces of mother toner particles formed of a material containing a rosin-based resin and a polyester resin with a polyalkyleneimine, and a metal soap dissolved in the liquid insulator.

Abstract: An electrically conductive pattern forming apparatus has process disposition which reduces contamination of a pattern or inside of the apparatus due to backflow and leakage of a liquid material such as a developing agent or a cleaning liquid. A developing device and a cleaning device in the electrically conductive pattern forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method are disposed in a lower region about the center of a photoreceptor, a solvent removing process is disposed in a region in which the photoreceptor rotates upward, and a transfer liquid applying process and an electrostatic transfer process are disposed above the center of the photoreceptor and in a region in which the photoreceptor rotates downward.

Abstract: In a device or method to develop charge images generated on a charge image carrier, a rotating applicator moves developer fluid having charged toner particles charged to a predetermined charge and carrier fluid past the charge image carrier. The developer fluid is moved into a developer gap between the applicator and a counter-electrode where it is exposed to an electrical field between the counter-electrode and the applicator. The toner particles of the predetermined charge are moved in a direction of the applicator depending on their charge, uncharged toner particles remaining unaffected and toner particles of opposite charge being repelled. Via a separation electrode protruding into the developer gap, the developer fluid in the developer gap is divided at an exit of the developer gap into a first partial flow adjacent to the application electrode and into a second partial flow adjacent to the counter-electrode where it is discharged.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to a liquid electrophotographic ink, comprising a carrier liquid, and a pigment-polymer blend composition dispersed in the carrier liquid, the pigment-polymer blend composition comprising a pigment and a polymer blend of three distinct polymers. The polymer blend can comprise a first polymer having a melt flow rate of about 20 to about 70 g/10 min and a Vicat softening point of about 60° C. to about 70° C., a second polymer having a melt flow rate of about 80 to about 120 g/10 min, and a third polymer having an acidity of about 160 to about 230 mg KOH/g and a melt flow rate of at least 500 g/10 min. The liquid electrophotographic ink is typically formulated for printing from a liquid electrophotographic printer.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes: an insulating liquid having dispersed therein toner particles, the insulating liquid containing a fatty acid monoester that is an ester of a fatty acid and a monohydric alcohol, and the insulating liquid having an aniline point of from 5 to 80° C.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes toner particles formed of a resin material and a coloring agent, and an insulation liquid in which the toner particles are dispersed, the insulation liquid containing ester-exchange oil obtained by an ester-exchange reaction of linseed oil and at least one of semidrying oil and nondrying oil. It is preferred that the insulation liquid further contains fatty acid monoester. Further, it is preferred that the amount of the fatty acid monoester contained in the insulation liquid is in the range of 5 to 50 wt %.

Abstract: A developing system comprises: a plurality of image carriers; a plurality of developing devices for developing electrostatic latent images, formed on the plurality of image carriers, with respective liquid developers of different colors of which carrier is nonvolatile solvent; and developer collecting means which are disposed at a plurality of locations for collecting excess developers, wherein the developing devices have developer containers, respectively. The developing system further comprises a carrier storing tank for distributing the carrier to the respective developer containers.

Abstract: A liquid developer contains toner, a carrier liquid in which the toner are dispersed, and a graft copolymer of an acrylic polymer and a polysiloxane.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier 20Y that carries liquid developer containing toner liquid and carrier liquid, a developer supply member 32Y that supplies liquid developer to the developer carrier 20Y, a developer carrier cleaning member 21Y that collects liquid developer from the developer carrier 20Y, a collection reservoir 31bY that stores the liquid developer collected by the developer carrier cleaning member 21Y, a supply section 31aY that makes liquid developer flow to the collection reservoir 31bY, a conveyance member 34Y that conveys the liquid developer collected in the collection reservoir 31bY in a first direction X and a conveyance capacity regulation section 100 that regulates the conveyance capacity of the conveyance member 34Y.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to apparatuses, methods, and systems involving liquid electrophotographic printing. Generally, a liquid electrophotographic printer can comprise an ink application device that is configured to apply liquid electrophotographic ink to a substrate, and a roller having a tacky surface that removes excess material from the surface of the substrate thereby pretreating the substrate prior to receiving the liquid electrophotographic ink.

Abstract: A toner particle for liquid development is provided, the toner particle having a plurality of projections and a coat above at least a part of a surface of the toner particle, the toner particle further containing a crystal that forms at least one of the plurality of projections.

Abstract: A liquid developer having superior fixing characteristic of toner particles to a recording medium and which is harmless to the environment, and an image forming apparatus using the liquid developer are provided. The liquid developer is comprised of an insulation liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid, wherein the insulation liquid contains a first vegetable oil and a reaction product produced by an ester exchange reaction of a second vegetable oil and a monovalent alcohol.

Abstract: A development apparatus includes an anilox roller for supplying liquid developer to a development roller and a supply roller arranged in a developer container and held in contact with the anilox roller to supply the liquid developer to the anilox roller. An AC voltage is applied to the supply roller, and a bias voltage is applied to the development roller. Liquid developer contained in grooves of undulations of an anilox pattern formed on a surface of the anilox roller is applied to the development roller.

Abstract: A liquid separator is a device for separating and extracting a dispersoid and a dispersion medium from a liquid sample containing the dispersoid and the dispersion medium. The liquid separator has a liquid storage container capable of storing the liquid sample; an electrode roller including a rotary shaft, arranged to touch the liquid sample in the liquid storage container, capable of conveying the liquid sample along the outer circumferential surface thereof and rotatable about the rotary shaft; a separating member held in contact with the electrode roller for separating the dispersion medium from the liquid sample being conveyed along the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller; and a collecting member for collecting the dispersion medium from the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller at a position downstream of the contact position with the electrode roller and the separating member in a rotating direction of the electrode roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a developing portion for developing a image carrier with liquid developer including a toner and a carrier liquid, a transfer portion for transferring the image developed on the image carrier in the developing portion onto a surface of the recording medium, and a recording medium transporting portion for transporting the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred with surface of the recording medium onto which the image has been transferred facing downward, with the upward facing surface being sucked and held by air flow.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes, for each of liquid developers of plural colors, a photosensitive member, a developing roller, an agitating device that agitates a liquid developer having a viscosity characteristic dependent on a shearing force, and a developer supplying unit that supplies the liquid developer to the developing roller. In development, agitation start timing is varied depending on the color of the liquid developer.

Abstract: A method for calibrating the BID current in an electrophotographic printer includes the steps of measuring electrode capacitance of an empty BID unit, installing the BID unit in an electrophotographic printer, comparing the measured capacitance with a calibration curve to determine the proper current for the BID unit, and adjusting the operating current of the BID unit according to the calibration curve.

Abstract: An ink development unit is disclosed for liquid electro photography (LEP) printers or the like. An exemplary squeegee on PIP (photo imaging plate) (or “SOP”) ink development unit for a liquid electro photography (LEP) printer system includes an ink dispenser configured to dispense ink during a printing operation. A developer roller having a compliant surface is positioned in contact with a PIP during a printing operation. The developer roller directly receives the ink dispensed from the ink dispenser. The developer roller squeegees the ink dispensed from the ink dispenser into an ink layer with higher solids concentration for development onto an image area on the PIP.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer supply member that supplies a developer supporting member with liquid developer from a developer container. An agitating member is disposed in the developer container supplies the developer supply member with the liquid developer. The developer container includes a partition member partitioning between and extending above first and second developer holding sections. The partition member is aligned in parallel to an axial direction of rotation of the agitating member and allows liquid developer to move between the first and second developer holding sections.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reservoir base section with a recess that receives liquid developer scraped off of a developing roller by a cleaning blade. The recess is substantially U-shaped with an opened top side and an arc angle of not less than 180°. A conveying base station is continuous with the reservoir base section and has a conveying port formed thereon. A conveying member arranged in the reservoir and conveying base sections conveys liquid developer through a hollow path from the recess to the conveying port by rotating about its axis. The radius r1 of the outer periphery of the conveying member, the radius r2 of the conveying port and the radius r3 of curvature of the recess have the relationship r1<r2<r3.

Abstract: A system for reducing lead edge (LE) smearing in an electrostatographic machine is provided. The system comprises a pretransfer corotron positioned between a developing station and a transfer station in an electrostatographic imaging device. The pretransfer corotron is configured to apply a predetermined charge to at least a portion of a developed toner image on a photoreceptive surface. The predetermined charge is greater than a charge applied to the rest of the developed toner image. The system further includes a controller operably associated with the pretransfer corotron. The controller is configured to activate the pretransfer corotron to apply said predetermined charge to the developed toner image at a lead edge region of the developed toner image when leading edge smearing is detected during imaging operations.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer storage portion which stores a liquid developer including toner and carrier liquid; a first coating member which rotates and coats the liquid developer stored in the developer storage portion; a second coating member which comes into contact with the first coating member and rotates in a direction opposite to that of the first coating member and slower than a rotary peripheral velocity of the first coating member; and a developer supporting body which comes into contact with the second coating member and rotates in the same direction as that of the second coating member and faster than a rotary peripheral velocity of the second coating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed; a charging unit that charges the latent image carrier; an exposing unit that exposes the latent image carrier charged by the charging unit and forms the latent image; a developing unit including a developer carrier that carries liquid developer including toner and carrier liquid, a developer feeding member that feeds the liquid developer to the developer carrier, a bias applying member that applies a bias to the liquid developer on the developer carrier, a developer carrier cleaning member that collects the liquid developer on the developer carrier, a collected developer storing portion that stores the liquid developer collected by the developer carrier cleaning member, a feeding unit that feeds the liquid developer to the collected developer storing portion and the developer feeding member, a conveying member that stirs the liquid developer collected by the collected developer storing portion, and a stirring amount

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 developer feeder for wet developing apparatus having a developing roller rotationally engaged with a photoconductor drum and a feed roll in part immersed in a liquid developer and rotationally engaged with the developing roller for supplying the liquid developer onto the developing roller can be made to furnish the peripheral surface of the developing roller with the liquid developer even in thickness by using a plurality of feed rollers which are not mesh rollers but whose peripheral surfaces are smooth and which are arranged circumferentially of the rotational developing roller.

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: 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: An image forming method includes: by using a plurality of liquid developers having different colors, forming a plurality of single color images corresponding to the colors; transferring a non-fixed color image onto a recording medium; and fixing the non-fixed color image onto the recording medium. In the image forming method, each of the liquid developers includes an insulting liquid containing unsaturated fatty acid components and toner particles dispersed in the insulating liquid, and an oxidation polymerization accelerator that accelerates an oxidation polymerization reaction of the unsaturated fatty acid components during fixation is contained in the liquid developer forming the single color image that is positioned closest to the recording medium among the plurality of single color images forming the non-fixed color image.

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: A binary ink developer (BID) for a liquid electro-photography (LEP) printing device includes a sponge roller to absorb unused ink. The BID includes a squeezer roller to release the unused ink absorbed by the sponge roller for reuse. The squeezer roller releases the unused ink absorbed by the sponge roller by compressing the sponge roller. Compression of the sponge roller results in ink foam. The BID includes a mechanism having a wall, and a housing that together with the wall of the mechanism defines a passageway between the housing and the wall. The passageway is exposed externally to the BID. The BID includes one or more suction cavities defined within the wall of the mechanism through which the ink foam moves back from the passageway.

Abstract: The invention provides a printed circuit board (PCB) printing system. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a liquid electrophotographic printing device. At least one supplier of electrically conductive ink supplying electrically conductive ink to the electrophotographic printing device is also provided. In addition, at least one supplier of dielectric ink supplying dielectric ink to the electrophotographic printing device is also provided. The liquid electrophotographic printing device is operable to apply the electrically conductive ink and the dielectric ink to a provided substrate such that substantially immiscible boundary delineation occurs at any points of contact between the applied electrically conducive ink and the applied dielectric ink. An appropriate method of use for the rendering of a printed circuit board is also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a developing unit for maintaining constant density in an electrophotographic imaging process. The developing unit has a developer roll, wherein the developer roll provides a surface and a first voltage is applied to the developer roll; a skive device, wherein the skive device is positioned in contact with the developer roll and a second voltage is applied to the skive device; a cleaning device for the developer roll, wherein the cleaning device is in contact with the developer roll; and an ink container, wherein the developer roll and the cleaning device are inside the ink container. It is preferred that a current measuring device is present to measure current flow between skive device and the developer, or a voltage meter is present to measure a voltage across a known resistor that is in series with the power supply to the skive device.

Abstract: A splash guard is configured to control the flow of excess liquid generated by an interaction between a first roller and a second roller by splitting the flow of the excess liquid into a first flow and a second flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid toner and imaging apparatus provided with an imaging surface having a liquid toner image formed thereon on fibrous toner particles and carrier liquid. The fibrous toner particles can be composed of a polymer portion and pigment dispersed therein, where the polymer portion comprises a surface of the fibrous toner particles and is insoluble in the carrier liquid at temperatures below 40° C., so that the polymer portion will not dissolve or solvate in storage. The polymer portion also is solvatable by the carrier liquid only at temperatures above 50° C. The carrier liquid has, as a major component, first liquid hydrocarbon having a first rate of evaporation, and, as a minor component, second liquid hydrocarbon having a second rate of evaporation which, at room temperature, is at least an order of magnitude less than the first rate of evaporation.

Abstract: An ink builder to build an ink for a hard copy device. The ink has at least one property that deteriorates in storage. The ink builder comprises an ink tank and apparatus for building ink in the ink tank from a plurality of components and/or an ink maintaining apparatus arranged to inhibit deterioration of the at least one property of the ink in the ink tank. The ink builder may be used in cooperation with a separate hard copy device to which the ink tank can be transferred. Methods of producing hard copies using such a hard copy device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition includes at least one radiation curable (alkyl)acrylate-polyester oligomer, at least one photoinitiator, and at least one surfactant, wherein the composition has a viscosity of from about 50 cP to about 3000 cP at about 25° C., and a surface tension of from about 15 to about 40 dynes/cm at about 25° C.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the electrographic printing or copying using liquid coloring agents consisting of a carrier liquid and toner particles, including a latent image carrier and at least one supply element in the form of a slot-like supply nozzle via which the liquid toner is applied to the latent image carrier and a suction element by which excess liquid coloring agent is removed from the latent image carrier, a de-coupling channel is arranged between the suction element and the supply element.

Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulation liquid, and toner particles that are dispersed in the insulation liquid. Fatty acid monoester is unevenly distributed in the vicinity of surfaces of the toner particles, and the insulation liquid contains unsaturated fatty acid triglyceride.