Liquid developer imaging apparatus having extended photo-conductor life

An image forming apparatus using a liquid developer comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• charging means for charging said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• a rotatable belt type developed image carrier which rotates such that a substantially dry part of the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier contacts firmly with said latent image forming unit;
• electrostatically image transferring means for electrostatically transferring said electrostatic latent image formed on said electrostatic latent image forming unit to said belt type developed image carrier;
• liquid developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image transferred on said belt type developed image carrier by electrostatically transporting said liquid developer to a portion of the exterior surface of said belt type developed image carrier;
• squeezing means for squeezing a residual liquid developer from said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying pressure;
• vaporizing means for vaporizing said residual liquid developer contained in said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying heat and pressure in contact with a portion of the exterior surface of said belt type developed image carrier;
• and
• transferring/fixing means, in contact with said belt, for transferring and fixing on a recording medium said developed image after said residual liquid developer was squeezed and vaporized;
• and
• a heater for removing residual liquid developer from said belt and supporting the rotation of said belt after developing said latent image.

An image forming apparatus using a liquid developer comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• charging means for charging said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• a belt type developed image carrier which rotates such that a part of the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier contacts firmly with said latent image forming unit;
• electrostatically image transferring means for electrostatically transferring said electrostatic latent image formed on said electrostatic latent image forming unit to said belt type developed image carrier;
• developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image transferred on said belt type developed image carrier by transporting a liquid developer to said belt type developed image carrier;
• squeezing means for squeezing a residual liquid developer from said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying pressure;
• vaporizing means for vaporizing said residual liquid developer contained in said developed image on said belt We developed image carrier by applying heat and pressure;
• transferring/fixing means for transferring and fixing on a recording medium said developed image whose said residual liquid developer was squeezed and vaporized;
• and
• a heating/sustaining component which provides a heating unit in said vaporizing means and said heating unit for said transferring/fixing means and also sustains the rotation of said belt type developed image carrier.

An image forming apparatus using a liquid developer comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• charging means for charging said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• a belt type developed image carrier which rotates such that a part of the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier contacts firmly with said latent image forming unit;
• electrostatically image transferring means for electrostatically transferring said electrostatic latent image formed on said electrostatic latent image forming unit to said belt type developed image carrier;
• developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image transferred on said belt tape developed image carrier by transporting a liquid developer to said belt type developed image carrier;
• squeezing means for squeezing a residual liquid developer from said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying pressure;
• vaporizing means for vaporizing said residual liquid developer contained in said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying heat and pressure;
• and
• transferring/fixing means for transferring and fixing on a recording medium said developed image whose said residual liquid developer was squeezed and vaporized;
• wherein said developing means and said squeezing means are disposed at the position where the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier contacts firmly with said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• and
• said vaporizing means is disposed at the position where the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier does not contact firmly with said electrostatic latent image forming unit.

An image forming apparatus using a liquid developer comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• charging means for charging said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• a belt type developed image carrier which rotates such that a part of the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier contacts firmly with said latent image forming unit;
• electrostatically image transferring means for electrostatically transferring said electrostatic latent image formed on said electrostatic latent image forming unit to said belt type developed image carrier;
• developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image transferred on said belt type developed image carrier by transporting a liquid developer to said belt type developed image carrier;
• squeezing means for squeezing a residual liquid developer from said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying pressure;
• vaporizing means for vaporizing said residual liquid developer contained in said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying heat and pressure;
• and
• transferring/fixing means for transferring and fixing on a recording medium said developed image whose said residual liquid developer was squeezed and vaporized,
• wherein said developing means is disposed at the position where the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier contacts firmly with said electrostatic latent image forming unit, and
• said squeezing means and said vaporizing means are disposed at the position where the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier does not contact firmly with said electrostatic latent image forming unit.

An image forming apparatus using a liquid developer comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• charging means for charging said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• a belt type developed image carrier which rotates such that a part of the inside surface of said belt type developed image contacts firmly with said latent image forming unit;
• electrostatically image transferring means for electrostatically transferring said electrostatic latent image formed on said electrostatic latent image forming unit to said belt type developed image carrier;
• developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image transferred on said belt type developed image carrier by transporting a liquid developer to said belt type developed image carrier;
• squeezing means for squeezing a residual liquid developer from said developed image on said belt tape developed image carrier by applying pressure;
• vaporizing means for vaporizing said residual liquid developer contained in said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying heat and pressure;
• and
• transferring/fixing means for transferring and fixing on a recording medium said developed image whose said residual liquid developer was squeezed and vaporized,
• wherein said developing means, said squeezing means, and said vaporizing means are disposed at the position where the inside surface of said belt type developed image carrier does not contact firmly with said electrostatic latent image forming unit.

An image forming apparatus using a liquid developer comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• charging means for charging said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• a belt type developed image carrier which rotates such that a part of the inside surface of said belt type developed image contacts firmly with said latent image forming unit;
• electrostatically image transferring means for electrostatically transferring said electrostatic latent image formed on said electrostatic latent image forming unit to said belt type developed image carrier;
• developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image transferred on said belt type developed image carrier by transporting a liquid developer to said belt type developed image carrier;
• squeezing means for squeezing a residual liquid developer from said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying pressure;
• vaporizing means for vaporizing said residual liquid developer contained in said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying heat and pressure;
• and
• transferring/fixing means for transferring and fixing on a recording medium said developed image whose said residual liquid developer was squeezed and vaporized,
• wherein said latent image forming means is disposed at the position where said belt type developed image carrier contacts directly with said electrostatic latent image forming unit.

An image forming apparatus using a liquid developer comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• charging means for charging said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said electrostatic latent image forming unit;
• a belt type developed image carrier which rotates such that a part of the inside surface of said belt type developed image contacts firmly with said latent image forming unit;
• electrostatically image transferring means for electrostatically transferring said electrostatic latent image formed on said electrostatic latent image forming unit to said belt type developed image carrier;
• developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image transferred on said belt type developed image carrier by transporting a liquid developer to said belt type developed image carrier;
• squeezing means for squeezing a residual liquid developer from said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier by applying pressure;
• vaporizing means for vaporizing said residual liquid developer contained in said developed image on said belt type developed image carrier be applying heat and pressure;
• and
• transferring/fixing means for transferring and fixing on a recording medium said developed image whose said residual liquid developer was squeezed and vaporized,
• wherein said latent image forming means is disposed at the reverse side of the surface that said belt type developed image carrier contacts with said electrostatic latent image forming unit and wherein said belt type developed image carrier has transparency.