Ghostless developed image forming apparatus and method

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a photo-conductive member configured to carry a latent image thereon;
• a latent image forming device configured to form said latent image on said photo-conductive member;
• a developing device, which develops said latent image with a liquid developer to form a toner image;
• a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image from said photo-conductive member onto a sheet, wherein, said developing device includes,
• a developer container configured to hold said liquid developer therein,
• a developer carrying member that carries said latent image developed with said developer,
• a developer applying member positioned to apply a thin developer layer of said liquid developer to said developer carrying member, and
• a developer supplying member disposed in contact with said developer applying member and configured to supply said liquid developer from said developer container to said developer applying member during a developing operation and configured to be separated after said latent image is developed on said developer carrying member.

A developing method, comprising the steps of:

• supplying a liquid developer from a developer container to a developer applying device;
• applying said liquid developer to a developer carrying device by said developer applying device while contacting said developer carrying device;
• forming a developer thin layer of said liquid developer on said developer carrying device;
• developing a latent image with said developer thin layer formed on said developer carrying device;
• separating said developer supplying device from said developer applying device;
• and
• removing residual developer remaining on said developer carrying device by said developer applying device.

A developing apparatus, comprising:

• means for supplying liquid developer from a developer container to a means for applying the liquid developer;
• said means for applying the liquid developer being for applying the liquid developer to a developer carrying device when contacting the developer carrying device;
• means for forming a developer thin layer of said liquid developer on said developer carrying device;
• means for developing a latent image on said developer carrying device with said developer thin layer;
• means for separating said means for supplying from said means for applying;
• and
• means for removing residual developer remaining on said developer carrying device by said means for applying.