Toner applicator for electrophotographic microimagery

Abstract

A method and apparatus for applying liquid toner to fractional areas of a photoconductive recording member in processes involving microimagery. The method includes the steps of providing a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned, providing a carrier member having a conductive layer, electrostatically depositing liquid toner on the carrier member to form thereon a toner pre-deposit of desired density in an area corresponding to the fractional area to be toned on the photoconductor, contacting the toner pre-deposit on the carrier member with the fractional area on the photoconductor, and toning the fractional area on the photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from the toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to the photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner pre-deposit on the photoconductor. The apparatus includes backing members for supporting the photoconductor and contacting the fractional areas on the photoconductor with the fractional toner predeposits on the carrier member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.