Patent ID: 6173147
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A wet type electrophotography apparatus using as a liquid developer a non-volatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner, comprising:an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;a prewetting solution applicator to apply a prewetting liquid film on said image carrier;a developing device to supply a liquid toner as a liquid developing solution to said image carrier by making contact with said image carrier, and causing toner particles to deposit on said image carrier in accordance with an electrical field formed between said developing device and said image carrier;an intermediate transfer medium on which said toner particles deposited on said image carrier are transferred in accordance with said electrical field formed between said intermediate transfer medium and said image carrier;a pressure roller to transport a printing medium while forcing said printing medium onto said intermediate transfer medium as said pressure roller rotates in contact with said intermediate transfer medium; anda mechanism to cause a preheated heating device to make contact with said intermediate transfer medium only when needed to locally heat the surface of said intermediate transfer medium at a location before said intermediate transfer medium comes in contact with said pressure roller.