Internal erase before last development in color electrophotographic printing

A color printing machine, comprising:

• a photoreceptor having a first surface and a second surface that move in a predetermined direction;
• an exposure station for exposing said photoreceptor so as to produce a first latent image, a second latent image, a third latent image, and a fourth latent image, wherein said latent images together represent a composite image;
• a first development station for depositing a charged first toner layer on said first latent image, said first development station being adjacent said first surface and located downstream of said exposure station;
• a second development station for depositing a charged second toner layer on said second latent image, said second development station being adjacent said first surface and located downstream of said first development station;
• a third development station for depositing a charged third toner layer on said third latent image, said third development station being adjacent said first surface and located downstream of said second development station;
• a fourth development station for depositing a charged fourth toner layer on said fourth latent image, said fourth development station being adjacent said first surface and located downstream of said third development station;
• a transfer station adjacent said photoreceptor and located downstream of said fourth development station;
• and
• an erase lamp adjacent said second surface;
• wherein said erase lamp is located downstream of said first development station and upstream of said fourth development station;
• wherein a downstream development station develops its toner layer before an upstream development station develops its toner layer;
• and
• wherein said erase lamp erases charges on said first toner layer, on said second toner layer, on said third toner layer, and on said fourth toner layer.