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: A liquid image forming apparatus includes a rotation speed detection portion provided at one side of the image drying roller for detecting a rotation speed of said image drying roller. A speed comparison portion determines whether the image drying roller is rotating at normal speed by comparing the rotation speed of the image drying roller, detected by the rotation speed detection portion, with a predetermined range of a reference rotation speed. A controlling portion makes the heating roller heat the image drying roller to a reference temperature to vaporize the liquid carrier absorbed by the image drying roller, when it is determined from a signal from the speed comparison portion that the image drying roller does not maintain the regular speed. Thus, the toner image in a damp state, which is vulnerable to damage due to friction before being dried, can be protected and a quality printed material can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power supply to heat sources of a printer and an apparatus for controlling power supply to heat sources of a printer include: a heat generating portion having a plurality of heat sources; a power supply unit; a switching portion having a plurality of switches installed so as to connect or disconnect the power supply from the power supply unit to the individual heat sources; thermal sensors for sensing the temperatures of heat-supplied objects corresponding to the heat sources and generating corresponding temperature signals; and a power supply controller for adjusting the on times of the heat sources so that all periods of power supply to the heat sources do not overlap. Output signals from the thermal sensors for the respective heat sources are used to control the switching portion so that the temperatures of the heat-supplied objects are maintained within the respective preset temperature ranges.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an ink solidifying method in the image forming apparatus can efficiently perform solidification of an ink on a photosensitive belt developed and transferred to an image transfer process with simple construction.

Abstract: An enhanced image conditioning process for liquid ink development assists in achieving better developability and metering capability, especially for the cases where highly viscous developer fluids are used. By selectively heating the developer fluid in the vicinity of the development zone and/or the metering zone, the viscosity of the liquid is reduced, and hence better developability and a thinner film with higher solid content for the developed image can be obtained. Another benefit of lowering the viscosity of the developer fluid is that the developer fluid can be applied and metered at a faster rate than higher viscosity fluids. Liquid ink developability control by controlling ink temperature is advantageous over conventional methods of xerography.

Abstract: A heating roller driving device for a heating roller of an image forming apparatus. The heating roller driving device includes a motor for supplying the heating roller with a driving force for the heating roller to contact or separate from a photosensitive belt. A motor controller is provided for controlling the operation of the motor, and a main controller is included for providing the motor controller with a predetermined command to operate the motor.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic printer having an improved drying unit is provided. The liquid electrophotographic printer includes a photoreceptor belt circulating and supported by a plurality of rollers on an endless track, for forming a latent electrostatic image on the photoreceptor belt, a development unit for supplying a developer liquid to the photoreceptor belt and developing the latent electrostatic image into a toner image, a drying unit for drying the photoreceptor belt on which the toner image is formed, and a transfer unit for transferring the toner image to a sheet of paper, wherein the drying unit includes a heating device installed in the vicinity of one surface of the photoreceptor belt for heating the photoreceptor belt on which the toner image is formed to evaporate a carrier sticking to the photoreceptor belt, and a collector installed in the vicinity of another surface of the photoreceptor belt for collecting the carrier evaporated by the heating device.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer including: a photosensitive belt moving along a circular path and supported by a plurality of rollers; a main corona device for increasing an electrical charge potential on a surface of the photosensitive belt to a predetermined level for development; first, second, third and fourth laser scanning units for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive belt by color; first, second, third and fourth developing units for individually developing the electrostatic latent image using first, second, third and fourth developing solutions of different colors; a drying roller pressing the photosensitive belt for removing carrier from the developing solutions developed on the photosensitive belt, the drying roller being frictionally charged positively through contact with the photosensitive belt; an eraser for removing an electrostatic charge remaining on the photosensitive belt after development to uniformly electrify the surface of the photosensitive belt with exposing cha

Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve toner drying on electrostatic printing media is disclosed. A drying apparatus placed between two print stations in a single pass electrostatic printer provides air from two different drying assemblies, one adjacent to one print station and a second adjacent to a second print station.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided in a liquid electrophotographic reproduction machine, a development unit for developing latent images on an image bearing member using liquid developer material. The development unit includes a housing defining a liquid developer material holding chamber, and a quantity of liquid developer material contained within the chamber. The quantity of developer material includes carrier liquid and charged toner particles dispersed within the quantity of carrier liquid. The development unit also includes a heating element located inside the quantity of developer material for heating the quantity of developer material. The quantity of developer material when heated has a desired elevated temperature within a range of 50 to 60 degrees centigrade for improved developability without causing toner particle agglomeration.