Patent ID: 7664437

Claim:
A developing unit for developing an image using liquid developer that includes a mixture of toner particles and liquid carrier, comprising: a liquid developer container configured to contain an amount of liquid developer; a developer roller disposed at a location relative to the liquid developer container such that at least a portion of the developer roller is immersed in the liquid developer contained in the liquid developer container, the developer roller comprising a surface, on which to support a quantity of liquid developer, the developer roller being applied a first voltage; a skive device disposed to be in contact with the surface of the developer roller so as to remove excess liquid carrier from the surface of the developer roller, a second voltage being applied to the skive device, the skive device not being immersed in the liquid developer contained in the liquid developer container; a current measuring device configured to measure current flow between the skive device and the developer roller; and at least one voltage source configured to produce said first voltage and said second voltage, the at least one voltage source being configured to vary at least one of the first voltage and the second voltage according to the measured current flow between the skive device and the developer roller. wherein the second voltage is sufficiently different from the first voltage to cause the toner particles of the liquid developer on the surface of the developer roller migrate toward the surface of the developer roller.