Patent ID: 7657210

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: plurality of image carrier members; a plurality of development means for developing the electrostatic latent images formed respectively on the plurality of image carrier members by means of liquid developers of different colors containing a non-volatile solvent as carrier; an intermediate transfer member for sequentially transferring the developer images developed by the primary transfer sections respectively corresponding to the plurality of image carrier members, superposing them one on the other and carrying and conveying the developer images; secondary transfer means for transferring the superposed developer images from the intermediate transfer member onto a sheet on a sheet conveyance route in the secondary transfer section; and developer collection means for collecting excessive developers from at least two of the plurality of image carrier members, the plurality of development means, the intermediate transfer member and the secondary transfer means; wherein at least two of the flow channels from the developer collection means are merged to form a single flow channel, the flow channel formed by the merge is provided with a filter means, and the developer collection means are image carrier member squeezing means arranged at the upstream sides of the respective primary transfer sections of the image carrier members in the sense of the moving directions thereof.