US 5,689,780 A · Electrophotographic color printing apparatus using successively engageable developing units

Abstract

An electrophotographic printer includes a photosensitive drum, an exposure device for successively forming a plurality of electrostatic latent images based on the color-separated print information on the photosensitive drum and a developing device for successively developing the electrostatic latent images into toner images by toners of different colors corresponding to the print information. An intermediate transfer medium is pressed against the photosensitive drum so that the toner images on the photosensitive drum are successively transferred to the intermediate transfer medium to form a multicolor toner image on the intermediate transfer medium. A transporting medium is used for feeding and delivering a recording medium, which the multicolor toner image formed on the intermediate transfer medium is to be transferred to and fixed on, to and from the intermediate transfer medium. A and heating-fixing device is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium via the recording medium, in which a plurality of electrostatic latent images based on the print information color-separated into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are successively formed on the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent images are successively developed into toner images by toners of different colors corresponding to the color-separated print information. The process in which the toner images are transferred to the intermediate transfer medium is repeated successively to form a multicolor toner image thereon, and the multicolor toner image is transferred to and fixed on the recording medium.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An electrophotographic printer comprising:

a photosensitive drum;
exposure means for forming an electrostatic latent image based on print information;
developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive drum into a toner image by means of a wet toner;
a first squeeze roller for squeezing surplus wet toner adhering to said photosensitive drum, said first squeeze roller being set so that a contact angle at which a liquid carrier of said wet toner is in contact with a surface of said first squeeze roller is smaller than a contact angle at which said liquid carrier is in contact with a surface of said photosensitive drum;
transfer means for transferring said toner image onto a recording medium, which the toner image is to be transferred to and fixed on;
and
fixing means for fixing said toner image transferred on said recording medium onto said recording medium.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrophotographic color printing apparatus using successively engageable developing units

Life of this patent

Electrophotographic color printing apparatus using successively engageable developing units

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11