Latent image development apparatus

Imaging apparatus comprising:

• a first member including a first surface having formed thereon a latent electrostatic image, the latent electrostatic image having image regions at a first voltage and background regions at a second voltage;
• a second member charged to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages and having a second surface adapted for resilient engagement with the first surface;
• a third member adapted for depositing on the surface of the second member a thin layer of liquid toner containing a concentration of charged Toner particles greater than 15%;
• means for obtaining a desired image by selectively transferring portions of the layer of liquid toner from the surface of the second member to the photoconductive surface of the first member, the portions remaining on the surface of the second member constituting the desired image;
• end
• means for transferring the desired imager to a final substrate.

Imaging apparatus comprising:

• a first member including a first surface having formed thereon a latent electrostatic image, the latent electrostatic image having image regions at a first-voltage and background regions at a second voltage;
• a second member having a second surface and charged to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages;
• means for resiliently urging the second surface against the first surface at an interface region;
• a supply system which supplies a viscous liquid toner comprising a high concentration of charged toner particles in a carrier liquid greater than 15% to the interface region;
• means for extruding the viscous liquid concentrate between the first and second members thereby to develop the electrostatic image;
• and
• means for transferring the developed toner image from the first surface to a final substrate.

A liquid toner developer cartridge comprising:

• a housing;
• a quantity of liquid toner concentrate within the housing, the liquid toner concentrate having a first concentration of solids to liquid;
• and
• a dispensing mechanism which dispenses liquid toner concentrate from the housing having a second concentration of solids to liquid which is greater than the first concentration.

Imaging apparatus comprising:

• a first member having a first surface having formed thereon a latent electrostatic image, the latent electrostatic image including image regions at a first voltage and background regions at a second voltage;
• a cartridge comprising:
• a housing;
• a quantity of liquid toner concentrate within the housing, the liquid toner concentrate comprising toner particles and carrier liquid end having a first concentration of solid to liquid;
• and
• a dispensing mechanism which dispenses liquid toner concentrate from the housing having a second concentration of solids to liquid which is greater than the first concentration, said liquid toner concentrate being dispensed on a second surface of a second member, said second member being charged to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages and said second surface being adapted for operative engagement with the first surface eta first, development, region whereat the latent images is developed by the selective transfer of portions of the layer of liquid toner from the second surface to the first surface at the first region to form a developed image on the first member;
• end
• means for transferring the developed image from the first member to a final substrate.

An imaging method comprising the steps of:

• forming a latent electrostatic image including image regions at a first voltage and background regions at a second voltage on a first surface of a first member;
• charging a second member having a second surface adapted for operative engagement with the first surface at a first, development, region to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages;
• resiliently urging a third member against the second surface at a second region;
• supplying liquid toner comprising charged toner particles and carrier liquid to the second region end forming a thin layer of liquid toner containing a concentration of charged toner particles greater than 15% on the second surface;
• developing the latent image by the selective transfer of portions of the layer of liquid toner from the second surface to the first surface at the first region to form a developed image on the first member;
• and
• transferring the developed image from the first member to a final substrate.

An imaging method comprising the steps of:

• forming a latent electrostatic image including image regions at a first voltage and background regions at a second voltage on a first surface of a first member;
• charging a second surface of a second member to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages;
• resiliently urging the second surface against the first surface;
• depositing on the surface of the second member a thin layer of liquid toner containing a concentration of charged toner particles greater than 15%;
• forming a desired image by selectively transferring portions of the layer of liquid toner from the surface of the second member to the first surface of the first member, the portions remaining on the surface of the second member constituting the desired image;
• and
• transferring the desired image to a final substrate.