Abstract: A squeezing device of a wet printer for separating a liquid carrier element that is not used for forming an image from ink supplied to the photosensitive belt, includes a squeezing roller mounted to be opposite to the photosensitive belt, a bias applying unit for biasing the squeezing roller with a certain potential, and a plurality of backup rollers mounted side by side to be opposite to the squeezing roller across the photosensitive belt placed between the plurality of backup rollers and the squeezing roller, in order to extend a contact width between the photosensitive belt and the squeezing roller. A printer to which the squeezing device of a wet printer is applied secures a sufficient charging time of the photosensitive belt and lowers a voltage for generating a townsend discharge, to thereby enhance charging performances and printing qualities.

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 image forming apparatus as described in the embodiments of the present invention comprises a latent image forming unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface; a developing device which supplies liquid developer containing toner particles and carrier liquid to the electrostatic latent image, and forms a developed image on the latent image forming unit; a transferring device which transfers the developed image on the latent image forming unit onto a recording medium, a conveying path of the developed image being formed from the developing device to the recording medium; and a blowing unit equipped with a guide wall to cover at least a part of the conveying path, the guide wall providing a gap of more than 0.5 mm and less than 5 mm, and an air current generating source which generates an air current in the gap, and thoroughly dries and removes excess carrier liquid by exposing a developed image to the air current for a long time.

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 developing unit of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a developing roller, for forming a development gap with a photoreceptor web where developer is filled and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor web, a squeegee roller installed at the rear end of the developing roller for closely pressing the photoreceptor web to squeegee surplus developer, and a cleaning mechanism for removing toner particles of the developer adhering to a surface of the squeegee roller using an electrical force. Since the toner particles adhering to the squeegee roller are removed, contamination of a developed image is prevented and a clean image can be printed.

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: 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: In a wet-type developing unit (300), a plating roller (400) is disposed parallel to a development roller (110) at a predetermined distance. The plating roller (400) is connected to a variable power source (402) controlled by a voltage controller (404). The plating roller (400) is supplied with a voltage from the variable power source (402) and has an electric potential higher than that of the development roller (110) to move charged particle toners included in a liquid developer film adhered on the development roller (110) toward the development roller (110). The plating roller (400) reduces thickness of the liquid developer film and increase a solid component ratio of the liquid developer film. When the solid component ratio is large, pressure given by a squeezed roller (118) can be smaller.

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 capacitor base and a partition plate laminated thereon are fixed to the bottom of a capacitor column. Openings in the partition plate are filled with air stones that are solidified ceramics. A predetermined amount of developer medium is stored in the capacitor column. Hot vaporized developer medium and water vapor are sucked through a suction port from an image drier of an electrophotographic device, and are passed through a channel of the capacitor base. Then, the vapor is discharged toward the bottom of the partition plate having no air stones, generating bubbles after being passed through the air stones, and is then cooled and liquefied. By cooling to an appropriate temperature with a Peltier element, only the vaporized developer medium is selectively liquefied without liquefying the water vapor. The developer medium that is liquefied from vapor is returned to the developing process of the electrophotographic device for reuse.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a liquid electrophotographic developing apparatus including a developing unit and a plurality of air transport members. The developing unit has an elongated opening disposed adjacent to a moving image-bearing surface of a photoreceptor, and it is used for converting an electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The air transport member is provided around the elongated opening of the developing unit, and airflow therein has a predetermined air pressure to transport unused liquid developer away from the image-bearing surface while permitting toner particles in the liquid developer deposited on the image-bearing surface to be retained by the image-bearing surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure unit for forming a latent image on a photosensitive body which is rotating, a developing device, containing liquid developer in which developer particles are dispersed in a solvent, for supplying the liquid developer to the latent image on the photosensitive body and forming a developer image, a squeeze roller, which rotates in contact with the photosensitive body, for removing a surplus of the liquid developer remaining on the photosensitive body after development; and a transfer unit for transferring the developer image to a paper sheet after the surplus of the liquid developer is removed by the squeeze roller. The squeeze roller has a surface configuration which allows contact with the developer image on the photosensitive body with a uniform contact pressure in a contact portion where the squeeze roller contacts to the photosensitive body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming mechanism for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member, and a developing device for supplying a developing liquid containing at least toner and a carrier liquid, to the photosensitive member on which the latent image is formed, thereby to develop the latent image. The image forming apparatus also includes a removing device for removing an excessive portion of the developing liquid supplied by the developing device, whereby the excessive portion of the developing liquid remains on the photosensitive member after development. The image forming apparatus further includes a returning mechanism for returning the excessive portion of the developing liquid, which is removed by the removing device, into a casing of a developing liquid supply unit for supplying the developing liquid to the developing device, and a reserve flow-in section.

Abstract: A developing apparatus having a liquid developer supply unit for supplying a liquid developer to an electrostatic latent image on a belt type photosensitive body and a liquid component removing unit arranged at the downstream of the liquid developer supply unit so as to remove a liquid component from the liquid developer attached to the belt type photosensitive body. The liquid component removing unit includes a squeeze roller for removing a liquid component from the liquid developer attached to the belt type photosensitive body; and a second backup roller (liquid component removing auxiliary roller) which is in abutment with the squeeze roller via the belt type photosensitive body. The second backup roller has a diameter greater than that of the squeeze roller and a length almost identical to that of the squeeze roller.

Abstract: A squeezing apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic color printer for removing carrier of a developer from the developer without causing any damage to an image developed on a photosensitive medium. The squeezing apparatus includes a dual-structure squeezing roll that has a squeezing roll section of a low peel force for squeezing out and removing the carrier from the developer applied to the image area of the photosensitive medium, by its passive-rotational movement while being forced against the image area of the photosensitive medium by a certain force. The squeezing apparatus also includes a pair of friction roll sections, each friction roll section disposed at an end of the squeezing roll section with a gap to oppose each other at a certain interval, the friction roll sections having a high dry-friction coefficient and are passive-rotated while being forced into tight contact with the non-image area of the photosensitive medium by a certain force.

Abstract: Apparatus from removing excess liquid from a surface containing a liquid toner image comprising: a source of gas which flows gas onto the surface; and a chamber, adjacent the source and the surface which receives a mixture of air and liquid carried by the air and removes the mixture from the surface substantially without contaminating the surroundings, wherein the surface is an intermediate transfer member which receives images from a first surface and from which the images are transferred to a further surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for printing an image on a print medium with a liquid developer which comprises a liquid carrier and a toner dispersed in the liquid carrier. The printing method has: forming a toner image probably containing the liquid carrier, from the liquid developer; removing the liquid carrier from the toner image; transferring the toner image to the print medium; projecting light radiation on the toner image to be transferred, to measure the optical reflection from the toner image to be transferred; and estimating transfer suitability of the toner image to be transferred, by means of the measured optical reflection from the toner image to be transferred, for appropriately controlling the extent of the removing of the liquid carrier The printing apparatus has an optical instrument which projects light radiation on the toner image to be transferred and measures the optical reflection from the toner image to be transferred, in order to appropriately control the carrier remover.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrophotographic printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium with use of a liquid developer which contains a liquid carrier and a toner being dispersed in the liquid carrier. It has an image printing system having a circulative imaging surface on which a toner image is formed from the liquid developer, and transferring the toner image from the circulative imaging surface to the print medium: A collection member which is capable of absorbing or adsorbing vapor of the liquid carrier is provided to be disposed on a place which is surrounded by the circulative imaging surface, and a vapor directing system directs air containing the vapor of the liquid carrier vaporizing from the imaging surface, to the collection member.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrophotographic apparatus and a method for forming an electrophotographic image, in which a solvent recovery surface is rotated in a direction opposite to a moving direction of an image-holding surface having a liquid developer containing a toner and a solvent supplied thereto at a speed 1 to 4 times as high as the rotating speed of the image-holding surface such that the solvent recovery surface is apart from the image holding surface and in contact with the solvent attached to the image-holding surface at the position where these solvent recovery surface and image-holding surface are closest to each other, so as to remove at least partially the solvent from the image-holding surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first squeeze roller faced to the photosensitive member with a predetermined distance maintained therefrom and rotated in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the photosensitive member, thereby to remove a surplus developing solution which exists on the photosensitive member after development, and a second squeeze roller provided in contact with the photosensitive member and rotated in the same direction as the photosensitive member with no speed difference therebetween as the photosensitive member rotates, thereby to remove a solvent contained in a toner image formed by developing the latent image. The first squeeze roller is rotated at a moving speed which is 2 to 3 times higher than a speed at which the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive member moves.

Abstract: An electro-photographic image forming apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive belt and develops the electrostatic latent image with liquid toner composed of particle toners and a liquid solvent. With absorption means, whose surface is a liquid-solvent absorption layer, in pressure contact with the photosensitive belt, only the liquid solvent is recovered from the liquid toner image developed on the photosensitive belt. A dried toner image is transferred from the photosensitive belt to paper to fix the toner image thereon. The absorption means is heated by a heat source controlled by a temperature control method, which differs between the standby time and the print time, to vaporize the liquid solvent absorbed in the absorption layer. In addition, the electro-photographic image forming apparatus has means for moistening all part of the absorption means with the liquid solvent before the first image is written on the photosensitive belt.

Abstract: A squeegee roller cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a squeegee roller and a cleaning roller. The squeegee roller is mounted to be operative for movement in order to selectively contact a photoreceptor web circulating along an endless path. The cleaning roller includes at least one blade member that is spirally twisted on the outer circumference of a rotary rod so as to contact the squeegee roller by the movement of the squeegee roller to remove a hold-up volume of developer. Thus, contamination of the photoreceptor web and the transfer roller can be reduced so that the quality of the printed image can be improved.

Abstract: A liquid developing apparatus including a photosensitive element forming an electrostatic latent image thereon, a developing roller for supplying a developer to the photosensitive element, a squeezing roller for squeezing the photosensitive element, and a regulatory roller for preventing the spread of the surplus developer. By employing the liquid developing apparatus, most of the developer on the photosensitive element can be maintained thereon and properly discharged.

Abstract: A wet-type image forming device includes a development roller, a squeeze roller, a cleaning roller, a brush roller, and a reservoir, with voltages being applied to these components. A portion of one side of the reservoir is bent in a V-shape to form a protrusion so as to scrape toner particles from the brush roller. Toner particles adhering to the cleaning roller are mostly removed therefrom to sequentially adhere to the brush roller by a potential difference between the cleaning roller and the brush roller, and by opposing rotation of the cleaning roller and the brush roller in contact therewith. Toner particles remaining on the cleaning roller are scraped off by a cleaning blade to also adhere to the brush roller. Toner particles adhering to the brush roller are scraped off by the protrusion of the reservoir and are then dispersed in the liquid developer within the reservoir.

Abstract: Disclosed is image forming apparatus, including a photoconductor, a charger charging the surface of the photoconductor, a light source exposing the charged surface of the photoconductor to light to form a latent image, a developing unit supplying a liquid developing agent containing a liquid component and a solid component onto the photoconductor so as to convert the latent image into a visible image, a liquid component adjusting unit for adjusting the weight of the liquid component of the liquid developing agent on the surface of the photoconductor to meet the relationship of 0.1≦Ml/Ms≦4.0, where Ms represents the weight of the solid component of the developing agent supplied onto the photoconductor, and Ml represents the weight of the Liquid component of the developing agent, and a transfer unit transferring the visible image onto an image carrier.

Abstract: A developing unit of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a developing roller, for forming a development gap with a photoreceptor web where developer is filled and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor web, a squeegee roller installed at the rear end of the developing roller for closely pressing the photoreceptor web to squeegee surplus developer, and a cleaning mechanism for removing toner particles of the developer adhering to a surface of the squeegee roller using an electrical force. Since the toner particles adhering to the squeegee roller are removed, contamination of a developed image is prevented and a clean image can be printed.

Abstract: A wet-type electrophotography apparatus using a non-volatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner as a liquid developer and having a photoconductive medium, a prewetting device applying a film of prewetting solution to the surface of the photoconductive medium, a developing roller feeding the liquid developer to the photoconductive medium while making contact with the photoconductive medium, and causing toner particles in the liquid developer to adhere to the photoconductive medium in accordance with a electric field formed between the developing roller and the photoconductive medium, so that a toner image formed on the photoconductive medium is transferred directly to a printing medium, or to a printing media via an intermediate transfer medium to obtain a printed image.

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: An operational sequence including a cleaning of a processing device shifting to the standby state in the process of shifting from a printing operation to a standby state of a liquid electro-photographic device of a tandem type is performed well. A processing device has a squeeze roller for performing removal of residual liquid developer from an image formed on a photoconductive belt 2 and for forming an image into a film and is removed in order that the squeeze roller 6 shifts from the state having a clearance from the photoconductive belt 2 to the state being pressed against the photoconductive belt 2 for performing a removal of the liquid developer remaining on the squeeze roller 6 to the photoconductive belt 2 in sequence when the image forming operation is finished after cleaning the liquid developer adhered on the squeeze roller 6, and the removal proceeds sequentially from a processing device on a downstream side of a traveling direction of the photoconductive belt 2.

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 drying unit coupling apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer in which the engagement of a driving gear installed at a main frame, and a driven gear installed at a cam shaft, are prevented from disengaging when an auxiliary frame supporting the cam shaft is coupled to the main frame. The driven gear is engaged with the driving gear when the auxiliary frame and the main frame are coupled. The apparatus includes a main frame where a driving roller supports a circulating photoreceptor medium, a driving gear installed at the main frame, an auxiliary frame which is slidably installed at the main frame, a cam shaft supported at the auxiliary frame, a drying unit, a driven gear installed at the cam shaft, a cam member installed at the cam shaft, and a position fixing mechanism which fixes the position of the cam shaft when the driving gear and the driven gear are engaged, preventing the driving gear and the driven gear from deviating from each other.

Abstract: A squeegee roller for a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a steel core and an elastic rubber layer coated on an outer circumferential surface of the steel core. The elastic rubber layer forms a squeegee nip by contacting a photoreceptor web, thereby to make a toner of the excess developer, which is developed in an area for an electrostatic latent image of the photoreceptor web, into a thin film in the area for electrostatic latent image and to squeeze the remaining carrier. The roughness (Ra) of a surface of the elastic rubber layer satisfies the condition, 1.5 &mgr;m≦Ra≦2.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus will never cause unevenness of field gap in an axial direction of a squeezing roller, can efficiently clean the squeezing roller, and can prevent wearing of a tip end portion of a cleaning blade due to rubbing to provide longer life. The image forming apparatus has a spacer maintaining a given clearance between a cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the squeezing roller and a cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the cleaning roller.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus including an electrostatic latent image formation body, a latent image forming unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image formation body, and a belt-shaped image carrier with an inner surface in contact with the electrostatic latent image formation body for transferring the electrostatic latent image to the belt-shaped image carrier. A developing unit supplies a liquid developer containing toner particles and carrier liquid to a surface of the belt-shaped image carrier which is not in contact with the electrostatic latent image formation body. A solvent removal unit removes the carrier liquid from the developed image so as to form a toner-developed image. A transfer-fixation block transfers and fixes the toner-developed image from the belt-shaped image carrier onto a recording medium.

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 image forming apparatus which allows excess solvent to be effectively removed from the developed image is disclosed. A developing roller develops a latent image on the photoconductor member using the liquid developer composed of toner particles and a solvent. A squeezing roller squeezes excess solvent from a surface of a photoconductor member. A heater heats liquid developer existing on the photoconductor member to a temperature at which the solvent of the liquid developer is prone to vaporize. The heater is provided in one of the developing roller, the squeezing roller, and the liquid developer reservoir.

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: Apparatus from removing excess liquid from a surface containing a liquid toner image comprising:

Abstract: A developer cleaning method for a liquid electrophotographic printer is achieved by developing an electrostatic latent image by supplying developer supplied from an injection nozzle to a photoreceptor medium via a development roller, removing drip developer formed on the photoreceptor web between a squeegee roller and the development roller, removing developer remaining between the injection nozzle and the development roller, and reducing an electrical potential of the development roller after development so that toner particles included in the drip developer are transferred to the development roller due to a difference in electrical potential.

Abstract: An imaging system and corresponding method for manipulating, regulating or adjusting the fluid concentration of a toner cake to enhance the resultant image quality, while concomitantly enhancing the development and separation of image portions of the toner cake from non-image or background portions of the toner cake. The imaging system includes a toner cake applicator for applying toner cake onto a toner cake receiving member, a charging device disposed so as to form an electrostatic latent image in the toner cake, a separation subsystem positioned relative to the receiving member so as to selectively separate at least a portion of the imaged toner cake from the receiving member, and a fluid regulating device for regulating the amount of fluid in the toner cake.

Abstract: A toner image dryer is constituted to include a drying belt 11 having a functional material coated on a film surface of a base material, a pressure-contact roller rotated following rotation of an opposing drive roller for rotating and moving a drive belt having a photosensitive body on a surface of the belt by friction torque, with the drying belt 11 and the drive belt interposed between the pressure-contact roller and the opposing drive roller, a heat roller for heating the drying belt and a TS roller for applying predetermined tension to the drying belt, and to rotate and move the drying belt to thereby heat the belt to a predetermined temperature by the heat roller and to allow the drying belt to absorb and vaporize solvent from the photosensitive body closely attached between the opposing drive roller and the pressure-contact roller.

Abstract: A developer liquid squeegee apparatus for a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a wrap-around developer liquid removal arrangement for removing a wrap-around developer liquid. The removal arrangement compensates for malfunction or poor operation of an air nozzle for spraying airtoward the wrap-around developer liquid on both edges of a first squeegee roller usually provided in a development arrangement to avoid a wrap-around problem.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a squeeze roller of a liquid printer. The apparatus has general application for removing developer formed of a toner and a liquid carrier which adheres to an outer circumferential surface of the squeeze roller during lamination of the developer. The apparatus includes a blade holder and a blade having a plate of a predetermined rigidity. A cover member is coated on or adhering to the plate and has a lesser rigidity than the plate. One end of the blade is fixedly coupled to the blade holder and an opposite end thereof contacts the outer circumferential surface of the squeeze roller. The blade is disposed to be slanted in a trail counter direction to the rotational direction of the squeeze roller in a drip-line removing mode. Thus, the developer adhering to the squeeze roller can be cleaned.

Abstract: A squeegee roller cleaning apparatus for a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a plate installed at a tray, parallel to the axial direction of a squeegee roller, under a photoreceptor web to be capable of pivoting. A surface-contact blade member is supported at the plate so as to selectively surface-contact the outer circumferential surface of the squeegee roller. An elastic spring is coupled between the tray and the plate. A device makes the plate pivot such that the surface-contact blade member can contact or be separated from the outer circumferential surface of the squeegee roller.

Abstract: A method of cleaning ink remaining on a photoreceptor web when an error occurs in a printer including a development unit for supplying ink to a rotating photoreceptor web to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor web, a transfer roller for transferring a toner image formed on the photoreceptor web to a sheet of paper, and a cleaning roller installed to clean the transfer roller. When an error occurs, a printing operation is stopped so that the printing cannot be performed. Next, the ink adhering to the photoreceptor web is transferred to the transfer roller by rotating the photoreceptor web a predetermined number of times in a state in which the cleaning roller is separated from the transfer roller and the transfer roller contacts the, photoreceptor web. Then, the ink transferred to the transfer roller is removed in a state in which the cleaning roller contacts the transfer roller. Thus, the time required to remove the polluted ink remaining on the photoreceptor web can be reduced.

Abstract: A squeegee apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer is provided. The apparatus has a squeegee roller for pressing a photoreceptor belt to squeegee excess developer from an image developed on the transfer surface of the photoreceptor belt. A squeegee backup roller is provided opposite to the squeegee roller, to press a reverse surface of the photoreceptor belt. The squeegee apparatus includes a heating device installed in the squeegee backup roller, for heating the photoreceptor belt at a predetermined temperature. During printing, since the photoreceptor belt is squeegeed while it is heated to a predetermined temperature, the squeegeeing efficiency is enhanced, thereby improving the printing quality of the printer.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a squeegee roller of a liquid electrophotographic printer including a squeegee gear coaxially installed at one shaft end of the squeegee roller, a driving gear installed such that in a state where the squeegee roller contacts the photoreceptor belt, the center of the rotation shaft thereof is positioned on a plane perpendicular to the elevating direction of the squeegee roller and passing through the center of the rotation shaft of the squeegee roller, to be engaged with the squeegee roller, and a driving source having an output shaft for rotating the driving gear to drive the squeegee roller to rotate in a reverse direction to the circulating direction of the photoreceptor belt.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for forming a uniform layer of liquid developer which apparatus includes, for example, a coater for depositing liquid developer on a first movable substrate to form a first toner layer; a second movable substrate for contacting the first toner layer on the first substrate to form a uniformly thin second toner layer on the first substrate, wherein the directional movement of the first movable substrate surface is contrary to the directional movement of the second movable substrate surface, and wherein at least one of the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface conforms to an opposing surface; and a photoactive member for receipt and formation of latent image thereon and for receipt of a toner layer for development of the latent image by the toner layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for elevating a squeegee roller and a development roller for a liquid printer, including a pair of first supporting blocks for rotatably supporting both ends of the development roller which transfers a developer liquid to the transfer surface of a photoreceptor belt, a pair of second supporting blocks for rotatably supporting both ends of the squeegee roller which compresses the transfer surface of the photoreceptor belt and removes liquid carrier contained in the transferred developer liquid, a pair of cases in which the first and second supporting blocks are elevatably accommodated parallel to each other, a first elevating mechanism for elevating the cases relative to the photoreceptor belt, a driver unit for driving the first elevating mechanism, and a second elevating mechanism for elevating the first and second supporting blocks in sequence with the elevation of the cases. The apparatus elevates and adjusts the rollers according to the operation mode of the printer.

Abstract: The objects of the invention are to provide a liquid image forming apparatus in which the roughness of the surface of a squeeze roller to remove the carrier in the liquid developer or the excess developing material from the photosensitive member is kept as constant as possible and to provide a squeeze roller and a process for renewing the surface of a squeeze roller. In a liquid image forming apparatus having a squeeze roller 15 in pressure contact with a photosensitive member 1 for wiping off excess liquid developer 6 and a blade 11 for removing the liquid developer 6 adhering to the squeeze roller 15, the squeeze roller comprises a minutely foamed rubber.