Abstract: A liquid image forming apparatus including a developing portion in which ink is maintained at a uniform level so that the developing roller is dipped at a predetermined level, an ink reservoir in which ink supplied to the developing portion is stored, and an ink supplying unit to supply ink stored in the ink reservoir to the developing portion. The developing portion and the ink reservoir are provided in one developing container, and the ink supplying unit which supplies ink to the developing portion from the ink reservoir is provided in the liquid image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A liquid image developing system including a development container in which a developer having a charge is stored, a photosensitive body, and a development roller which is partially soaked in the developer in the development container and to rotate and form development nip. The system further includes a depositing portion to apply an electric potential to attach the developer to the surface of the development roller, a metering portion to regulate the developer attached to the surface of the development roller at a predetermined thickness at a front end of the development nip, and a cleaning portion to clean the surface of the development roller at a rear end of the development nip.

Abstract: A developing device comprises: a toner carrying member (15) for carrying toner T towards a photosensitive drum, using a traveling wave electric field; a belt member (16) which is provided so as to cover the surface of the toner carrying member (15), the surface facing the photosensitive drum (2); a belt drive roller (18) which is in touch with the belt member (16) so as to rotate the belt member (16) around the toner carrying member (15); and a drive assistance roller (19) for sandwiching the belt member (16) with the belt drive roller (18). With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a developing device which is silent, small in size, and capable of reducing costs, and an image forming device including the developing device.

Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a developing liquid includes a liquid storing section for storing the liquid including a developing substance and a carrier liquid. A developer carrier deposits the liquid fed from the liquid storing section thereon. A float type liquid level sensor senses a liquid level in the liquid storing section. The liquid level sensor includes a magnetic force generating member, a magnetic force sensing device, and floats movable up and down in accordance with the liquid level in the liquid storing section. A distance between the magnetic force generating member and the magnetic force sensing device varies in accordance with the movement of the floats, allowing the liquid level to be determined based on the output of the magnetic force sensing device. An image forming apparatus may include the developing device.

Abstract: A developing system of a liquid electrophotographic image forming device includes a developer reservoir in which a developer is stored, a development container in which the developer is supplied from the developer reservoir, a development roller rotating opposite to a photosensitive drum in the development container, and a pumping portion connected between the development container and the developer reservoir via connection pipes. The pumping portion supplies the developer to the development container from the developer reservoir or exhaust the developer from the development container and return the developer to the developer reservoir. Accordingly, the developer supplying and exhausting unit of the developing system can be simplified.

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 imaging system for effecting electrostatic printing of an image, wherein the imaging system includes an electrostatic printing engine operable in a novel fashion upon a copy substrate, for imaging and development of an electrostatic latent image representative of the image, and subsequently transfers the developed image to the copy substrate. A quantity of low solids content liquid developing material is subject to compression in a process nip such that the concentration of marking particles therein increases and the concentration of carrier fluid decreases. A toner cake layer is thereby formed in the process nip, and is used for development of the electrostatic latent image in a development zone situated in the process nip.

Abstract: A developing apparatus of the present invention has a mechanism capable of reducing the conductivity of a toner liquid. When the conductivity of the toner liquid is increased as a result of the replenishment of the toner liquid, the conductivity of the toner liquid to a control initial value by a mechanism that can reduce the conductivity of the toner liquid, thereby a stabilized image can be obtained.

Abstract: An ink pollution prevention device in a wet electrophotographic printer, for preventing a developer from polluting a photoreceptor and peripheral devices by flowing out at the ends of a development roller, a squeegee roller, and a cleaning roller, is provided with a pair of ink stoppers mounted around a shaft of each roller in a symmetrical manner with each other. Each ink stopper has a plurality of peaks and recesses which form a continuous helical shape in an opposite helical direction from the other ink stopper. The helical direction of the ink stopper is formed to permit the ink in the ink stopper to flow toward the center of the rollers when the rollers are rotated.

Abstract: Provided are an applicator roller for conveying and applying liquid toner onto a developing roller in the form of a level, thin layer, and a conductive blade which comes into contact with a liquid toner layer on the developing roller. A predetermined amount of liquid toner passes through a gap between the conductive blade and the developer roller; and voltage is applied to the conductive blade so as to establish a state such that toner particles contained in the liquid toner are sparsely scattered in a surface region of a level, thin toner layer on the developing roller. Subsequently, the liquid toner, whose surface region is in a state such that toner particles are sparsely scattered, is brought into contact with an image bearer body for performing development.

Abstract: An electrostatic transfer type liquid electrophotographic printer using a photoreceptor web circulating around a continuous path as a photoreceptor medium is provided. The photoreceptor web is charged to a predetermined potential by a main charger and a plurality of latent electrostatic images is sequentially formed thereon by a plurality of laser scanning units (LSUs). A plurality of developer units are arranged in series in the circulation direction of the photoreceptor web, and sequentially develops the plurality of latent electrostatic images into multi-color toner images with inks containing a liquid carrier and charged toner, thereby forming overlapping multi-color toner images on the photoreceptor web. A concentration control unit controls the concentration of the multi-color toner images to be suitable for electrostatic transfer by adjusting the amount of the liquid carrier applied to the overlapping toner images formed on the photoreceptor web.

Abstract: A method of producing a developing roller, includes providing a roller core having an electrically conductive layer provided on a circumferential surface thereof, applying a reaction mixture containing a fluorine-containing polyol, an isocyanate compound, and a reactive silicone oil having an active hydrogen to a surface of the conductive layer, and subjecting the reaction mixture to a reaction condition for reacting the flourine-containing polyol and the reactive silicone oil with the isocyanate compound.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic developing apparatus capable of preventing image drift and reducing the load in the squeezing process. A developing roller faces a photoreceptor belt with a predetermined spacing to supply a liquid developer to the photoreceptor belt while rotating at a peripheral velocity in the opposite direction to that of the photoreceptor belt in a developing region thereon. A peripheral velocity ratio of the peripheral velocity to a moving velocity of the photoreceptor belt is determined so as to maximize a solid component ratio of a developed toner layer on the photoreceptor belt.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic printer employs a continuously circulating photoreceptor web having a non-image region with a potential higher than an image region. A laser scanner forms a latent electrostatic image in the image region, and a development unit develops the latent image using an ink having toner particles dispersed in a liquid carrier. The development unit includes a developer roller with a surface potential in between that of the image and non-image region for forming the toner image by attaching the toner particles to the image region; a toner removal roller with a surface potential between that of the image and non-image regions after they pass through the developer roller, for removing toner particles remaining in a liquid carrier film in the non-image region; and a squeeze roller with a surface potential higher than any of the foregoing, for squeezing the liquid carrier out of the toner image by compression.

Abstract: An ink supply device that has a roller a part of which is submerged in ink and supplies ink from an ink container based on the rotation of the roller, wherein an object thereof is to prevent the solvent, the main ingredient of the ink, from evaporating and escaping from the container, and to supply ink in a stable fashion. To that end, the relationship (A/B) between the opening area A (the area of the opening 28 of the container) and the ink surface area B (the sum of the area of the ink surface other than the part thereof in which the roller is submerged and the area of the ink surface carried on the roller above the ink surface) is set to be smaller than 1 (<1) when an ink supply mode is present.

Abstract: In a wet-type developing apparatus in which a latent image carrying member and a squeeze roller are moved in the opposite directions to each other while they are not brought into contact with each other at the closest position thereof, a liquid toner layer on the latent image carrying member which is smaller in thickness than the gap interval between the latent image carrying member and the squeeze roller is made to invade into the gap, and the liquid toner invading into the gap between the squeeze roller and the latent image carrying member are brought into contact with the squeeze roller by electrical attractive force based on electric field formed between the squeeze roller and the latent image carrying member, thereby forming meniscus.

Abstract: A wet type electrophotography apparatus including a non-volatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner as a developing solution. The wet type electrophotography apparatus includes a photoconductive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a prewetting device for applying a film of a prewetting solution to the surface of the photoconductive medium, a developing device including a developing roller, and a developing solution applying device for applying a film of the developing solution on the developing roller. The developing roller feeds the developing solution to the photoconductive medium by making contact with the photoconductive medium, and causes toner particles in the developing solution to deposit on an image carrier in accordance with an electrical field formed between the developing roller and the photoconductive medium.

Abstract: A squeezing apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a squeezing roller for squeezing out and removing the carrier from a developer which is applied on a photosensitive belt by its passive-rotational movement while being pressed into tight contact with the photosensitive belt at a certain pressure together with a squeezing backup roller, a squeezing brush selectively coming in contact with the outer circumference of the squeezing roller, for cleaning the squeezing roller by being rotated by a separate driving section, and a squeezing roller slip prevention mechanism disposed on both ends of a shaft of the squeezing roller to come in tight contact with the squeezing backup roller during the pressing of the squeezing roller, for preventing any occurrence of slip of the squeezing roller with respect to the photosensitive belt.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic color image forming apparatus includes a main charger for charging a surface of a photoreceptor web to a predetermined charging electric potential, an optical scanning unit for scanning light onto the photoreceptor web to form an electrostatic latent image, and developing rollers for yellow, cyan, magenta and black colors, sequentially installed in a direction that the photoreceptor web circulates, for developing the electrostatic latent image using developer for each color. Further included are auxiliary chargers for cyan, magenta and black colors, installed downstream of each of the developing rollers, for additionally charging the photoreceptor web, the electric potential of which is lowered after development for each of yellow, cyan and magenta colors.

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 ink supply device that has a roller a part of which is submerged in ink and supplies ink from an ink container based on the rotation of the roller, wherein an object thereof is to prevent the solvent, the main ingredient of the ink, from evaporating and escaping from the container, and to supply ink in a stable fashion. To that end, the relationship (A/B) between the opening area A (the area of the opening 28 of the container) and the ink surface area B (the sum of the area of the ink surface other than the part thereof in which the roller is submerged and the area of the ink surface carried on the roller above the ink surface) is set to be smaller than 1 (<1) when an ink supply mode is present.

Abstract: In a wet-type developing apparatus in which a latent image carrying member and a squeeze roller are moved in the opposite directions to each other while they are not brought into contact with each other at the closest position thereof, a liquid toner layer on the latent image carrying member which is smaller in thickness than the gap interval between the latent image carrying member and the squeeze roller is made to invade into the gap, and the liquid toner invading into the gap between the squeeze roller and the latent image carrying member are brought into contact with the squeeze roller by electrical attractive force based on electric field formed between the squeeze roller and the latent image carrying member, thereby forming meniscus.

Abstract: A development apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a photoreceptor web having an image area where an electrostatic latent image is formed and a non-image area at both sides of the image area. A development roller is installed to correspond to the image area to which a development electrical potential of a predetermined level is applied, in which developer is supplied to the electrostatic latent image. A squeegee roller removes developer remaining on the photoreceptor web, and an air injection nozzle is installed adjacent to both ends of the development roller. The air injection nozzle injects air to move developer remaining on the photoreceptor web from the non-image area to the image area so that a boundary line between the image area and the non-image area is prevented from being developed due to a difference in electrical potential therebetween.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrostatic latent image liquid developing method and liquid developing apparatus that can prevent adhesion of toner to the non-image parts on the image bearing member and thereby prevent the occurrence of image inaccuracies. The method provides a pre-wetting process that applies pre-wet liquid to photosensitive member 10 and a developing process. In the developing process, a thin layer of a highly viscous liquid developing agent, in which toner is dispersed at a high concentration in a non-conductive liquid, is formed on the elastic developing roller 506. Developing roller 506 is rotated and, at the same time, the liquid developing agent layer on developing roller 506 is brought into contact with the pre-wet liquid layer on photosensitive member 10 in order to supply liquid developing agent to the latent image on photosensitive member 10. Thus, the toner develops the electrostatic latent image formed on photosensitive member 10.

Abstract: A liquid developing apparatus includes a developing roller for developing a latent image on a surface of a photoconductor belt by using a liquid developer. The developing roller is opposed to the surface of the photoconductor belt. A cleaning electrode is provided to remove toner particulates from the surface of the developing roller. The cleaning electrode is opposed to the developing roller with a predetermined distance. A first voltage and a second voltage are applied to the developing roller and the cleaning electrode, respectively. The second voltage applied to the cleaning electrode has an AC component to remove toner particulates from the developing roller.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: a developer retainer formed with a number of fine through-holes retaining liquid developer; and a photosensitive drum that forms images thereon. The photosensitive drum is formed with an electrically-charged latent image on its surface. When the liquid developer retained in the developer retainer approaches the latent image, the liquid surface of the liquid developer is attracted toward the photosensitive drum surface, by the electric field, at regions where the positively-charged latent image exists. As a result, the liquid developer adheres to the latent image. At regions where no latent image is formed, due to the wettability of the mesh wall with respect to the liquid developer, the liquid level is maintained as being fixed. Accordingly, the liquid developer does not adhere to the portion where no latent image is formed. The adhesion of the liquid developer only onto the portion where the latent image is formed develops the latent image into a visible image.

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: The invention relates to a digital electrostatic printing machine, comprising a cylinder with an electrostatically chargeable surface (PIP cylinder), to which charging electrodes, a laser write head and a quench electrode are assigned, and comprising an ink applicator, a transfer cylinder and a central cylinder. According to the invention, the ink applicator comprises an engraved roller.

Abstract: A method for printing information on an image receiver includes metering and collecting amounts of different fluids which when mixed will provide an ink of a desired color; transferring the fluids to cells formed on a surface where they are mixed to provide an ink of a desired color; and transferring the ink from the cells to an image receiver.

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: Provided is a liquid development apparatus which can restrain carrier liquid in a liquid developer from being evaporated and diffused into the atmosphere, which has a simple and convenient arrangement, and in which a recording medium formed thereon with an electrostatic latent image in accordance with image data is transferred and the electrostatic latent image on the recording medium is developed by a developer in a liquid developer in which toner particles are dispersed. The liquid development apparatus includes a developer supply for feeding the developer containing non-volatile components having a density of 10 to 30 wt. %, a developer holding member having a surface roughness in a range from 8 to 25 .mu.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide improved custom color capabilities. A pre-mixed custom color toner having a high solids content of approximately 10-50% is used to generate a custom color toner layer to develop an electrostatic latent image. In contrast to conventional liquid developing systems, a complex control system is not needed to achieve consistent and stable color toner images using the invention. A custom color toner layer assembly can also be formed and used to develop an electrostatic latent image. Because the color and density of the toner layer assembly is formed before image development, color correction steps can be avoided.

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: An image forming apparatus includes a developer retainer 3 with a larger number of fine holes for holding liquid developer 30 obtained by dissolving or dispersing a coloring component such as dye and pigment in liquid, a developer supplier which supplies the developer to the fine holes, and a photosensitive drum 2 on which an electrostatic latent image can be formed. The roller-like retainer 3 made of a metallic mesh and the drum 2 are rotated while contacting each other. A doctor blade 6 scrapes away excess developer from a surface of the retainer 3 so that only the fine holes of the retainer 3 hold the developer 30 with its level positioned inside of the retainer from the surface thereof. The developer 30 is attracted by an electrostatic force exerted on the liquid developer by an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member which is able to carry latent image and a reservoir in which liquid developer is stored. The liquid developer is transferred and adhered to the latent image so that the liquid developer develops the latent image. The liquid developer presents liquid state at least when the liquid developer develops the latent image. The image forming apparatus further comprises a developer retainer (being faced with the image bearing member) having fine holes through which the liquid developer is transferred to the image bearing member, and a developer supplier which supplies the liquid developer from the reservoir to the developer retainer. Each of the fine holes has an exit opening through which the liquid developer moves out of the fine hole and moves to the image bearing member. Each of the fine holes has a part in which a cross sectional area thereof increases as a distance from the exit opening decreases.

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: An ink delivery system for a liquid electrophotographic printer is provided.

Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier includes an endless developing belt, and an applicator roller for applying a viscous developing liquid consisting of a dielectric carrier liquid and toner dispersed in the carrier liquid to the developing belt in the form of a thin layer. The developing liquid is transferred from the developing belt to the image carrier for developing the latent image. The applicator roller holds a preselected amount of the developing liquid thereon, contacts a portion of the developing belt not pressed from the rear side, and rotates in a direction opposite to a direction in which the developing belt moves. The device is therefore capable of uniformly applying the developing liquid to the developing belt and thereby improving image quality.

Abstract: A developing device of the type using a highly viscous developing liquid is disclosed. The developing liquid applied to a developer carrier in the form of a thin layer is uniformed in order to form a high quality image. The developing liquid is capable of forming desirable images with a constant characteristic even when it is repeatedly used over a long period of time. An image forming apparatus including such a developing device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric field applying device is disposed in a position opposite to a surface of rotary developing device within an area defined between the surface of the developing means and a position of scratching device after the surface of the developing device passes through a developing area so as to apply an electric field in a direction in which ions having the polarity opposite to that of toner particles are separated from the surface of the developing device.

Abstract: A liquid supply roller supplies water-based developing liquid to a developing roller. The developing roller is formed with pores for containing developing liquid, and includes the internal surface of each pore and the outer surface. The internal surface is hydrophilic and the outer surface is hydrophobic. A doctor roller having a surface more hydrophobic than the internal surfaces and more hydrophillic than the outer surfaces, removes excess developing liquid from the outer surface of developing roller, thereby developing liquid is contained in an isolated condition in each pore. The dielectric surface of a photosensitive drum is selectively exposed by an optical image. Then, the exposed region forms an electrostatic image. Developing liquid in the pore is selectively attracted to the exposed region, thereby adhering to the region.

Abstract: An image forming method and a image forming apparatus which make use of a liquid developer capable of changing in surface tension upon exposure or heating. The liquid developer is fed to the surface of a developer holding means on the surface of which the liquid developer to holdable, the surface of the developer holding means on which the liquid developer is held is subjected to selective exposure or heating in accordance with image information to form a latent image, and the latent image is transferred to a recording medium to form a visible image. This method and apparatus make it possible to form highly minute images at a high speed, and promise a high reliability and a low power consumption.

Abstract: A liquid developing head is arranged to confront a surface of an image bearing member via a developing gap and a squeeze gap and carries out a developing by use of a developing liquid.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including squeegee apparatus for squeegeeing excess material from a surface, from which surface at least a portion of the material remaining after squeegeeing is to be transferred to another surface, comprising: a first surface, having a central portion and two end portions having recessed surfaces and having a liquid material thereon at least in said central portion, said surface moving in a given direction at a squeegee region; and a second, squeegee, surface, urged against at least the central portion of the first surface at the squeegee region and formed with contiguous end portions which mate with the recessed end surfaces of the first surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing back-plated developer from a development device includes a shaft, cleaning media mounted about the outer surface of the shaft, means for loading the cleaning media against the development device, and means for rotating the shaft and the cleaning media, wherein the cleaning media removes back-plated developer from the development device. The cleaning media may include a fiber material having a plurality of flow paths. A fluid flow means can be provided to deliver a cleaning liquid to the cleaning media to flush at least a portion of the removed back-plated developer from the cleaning media.

Abstract: The image developing part 10 is constructed from the developing agent storing part 20 storing the fluid developing agent 18 and the developing agent supplying part 22 confronting the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 via the minute opening 25. The developing agent supplying part 22 includes a pair of, upper and lower, flat plates 24a and 24b which are placed in parallel and which define the uniform minute opening 25 over an entire width of the photosensitive drum 12. The flat plates 24a and 24b are formed with the electrodes 26a and 26b, respectively. It is possible to finely adjust the gap between the flat plates 24a and 24b through operating the minute displacement actuator 28 placed at the gap between the flat plates 24a and 24b. It is therefore possible to control the pressure to be exerted upon the fluid developing agent 18.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to develop electrostatic images using a mist which is substantially water and a colorant. Mist is transported from a generation station to a development station via a development electrode. Unused mist may be recycled or extracted. The mist may be size classified before development so that a consistent and desired resolution is obtained. Classification by size may be achieved by passing the mist in an arcuate path from the generation station to the development station.

Abstract: A multicolor electrostatic imaging system has multicolor spray apparatus for supplying a liquid toner of a selectable color to an electrostatic image. The spray means has a multiplicity of spray outlets including a plurality of spray outlets distributed among the multiplicity of outlets, for supplying liquid toner of each of a plurality of colors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing excess developer liquid from an imaging substrate make use of a squeegee roller, and a mechanism for loading the squeegee roller against the imaging substrate. The squeegee roller removes the excess developer liquid from the imaging substrate at an upstream side of the squeegee roller relative to a direction of movement of the imaging substrate. A portion of the excess developer liquid can pass to a downstream side of the squeegee roller, however, and be transferred from the squeegee roller to the imaging substrate. A second developer liquid removal mechanism is provided to remove from the imaging substrate the portion of the excess developer liquid transferred from the squeegee roller. The second developer liquid removal mechanism may include a second squeegee roller mounted at a position adjacent the downstream side of the first squeegee roller.

Abstract: An electrostatographic liquid immersion development (LID) reproduction machine having an image bearing member and a multifunction image developer and conditioning apparatus that significantly reduces the number of components, size, costs, and shear-force related image defects of such machines. The multifunction apparatus includes a housing defining a sump portion, a recovery chamber, and an opening into the recovery chamber; liquid developer material contained in the sump portion for developing a latent image on the image bearing member; and a rotatable multifunction roller assembly for processing a developed image on the image bearing member. This roller assembly includes a rotatable roll having a porous metal core defining an inner surface, and a foam layer formed over the metal core defining a skin or outer surface. The rotatable roller is mounted partially within the recovery chamber and partially through the opening and into contact with the image bearing member to form an image processing nip therewith.