Patent ID: 7333754
Filing Date: 2008-02-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus operating to form a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image on a latent image carrier using liquid developer with toner dispersed in carrier liquid, to primarily transfer said toner image onto an intermediate transfer medium at a primary transferring position, to transport said toner image on said intermediate transfer medium toward a secondary transferring position, and to secondarily transfer said toner image onto a recording medium under a secondary transfer condition, said apparatus comprising: a secondary transfer roller disposed to face said intermediate transfer medium at said secondary transferring position; a transferring bias generator that applies a secondary transferring bias upon said secondary transfer roller to secondarily transfer said toner image on said intermediate transfer medium onto said recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes said toner image secondarily transferred on said recording medium, wherein said fixing process is only performed after said secondary transfer process; and an adjusting device comprising a dispensing member that dispenses said carrier liquid onto said intermediate transfer medium and a plurality of stripping members that strip off said carrier liquid which is in a surface layer of said liquid developer between said primary transferring position and said secondary transferring position, wherein at least one of the plurality of stripping members is structured to move, and an amount of the carrier liquid that is stripped is controlled by controlling a position of the at least one stripping member that is structured to move, the adjusting device thereby adjusting an amount of carrier liquid contained in said liquid developer adherent to said intermediate transfer medium so as to correspond with said secondary transfer condition, wherein a ratio between said toner and said carrier liquid carried on said intermediate transfer medium is controllable by said adjusting device.