Apparatus and method for improved liquid developer image conditioning

A printing machine of the type having a surface, with an image developed with a liquid developer comprising liquid carrier and toner particles, and a device for conditioning the liquid image, comprising:

• a porous member pervious to the liquid carrier and substantially impervious to the toner particles;
• means for applying an electrical bias to said porous member;
• and
• a wire mesh associated with said porous member to substantially uniformly distribute the electrical bias about said porous member for electrostatically repelling the toner particles from said porous member.

A device for conditioning a liquid image including liquid carrier and toner particles, comprising:

• a roller having a rigid porous core adapted to absorb a liquid carrier;
• a conformable open cell porous absorption material having an inner surface and an outer surface and adapted to absorb the liquid carrier, the inner surface of said absorption material mounted around said core;
• and a porous covering in contact with a portion of the outer surface of said absorption material, said covering having a smooth surface;
• means for applying an electrical bias to said roller;
• and
• a wire mesh positioned between said covering and said core and in close proximity to said covering, said wire mesh for substantially uniformly distributing said electrical bias about said roller for electrostatically repelling toner particles from said roller;
• wherein said absorption material, said wire mesh, and said covering are in the form of a belt, and wherein the inner surface of said absorption material is mounted around said core and a second roller.