JPH11212368A - Image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To uniformly transfer toner particles to transfer material and to form an image with proper density by forming the thin layer of liquid developer having thickness in accordance with the property of the transfer material on a developer carrier. SOLUTION: When a user inputs the level of the property of the transfer paper 80 from a control panel in the case of inputting designation for forming an image, a converter calculates a voltage value used to rotate a coating roller 42 based on the inputted level of the paper 80. In such a case, the converter calculates the driving voltage value of a motor for rotating the roller 42 by using a conversion table or a conversion expression and transmits it to a control part. The control part applies voltage on the motor for rotating the roller 42, based on the voltage value received from the converter and drives the roller 42. Since the linear velocity of the roller 42 is changed in accordance with the property of the paper 80, the thickness of the layer of the liquid developer 90 on the roller 43 is controlled in accordance with the property of the paper 80, and the thickness of the layer of the developer 90 on a photoreceptor 1 is controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid developer in which a thin layer of a liquid developer is formed on a developer carrier, and a latent image body having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof is formed on the developer carrier. Of the developer, the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and the toner image formed by development is formed. The present invention relates to an image forming method for forming an image by transferring an image to a transfer material, and particularly to an improvement in image quality.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image on a latent image body using a liquid developer in which toner is dispersed at a high concentration in a dielectric carrier liquid, a high-viscosity liquid developer is carried on the developer. The liquid developer on the developer carrier is transferred to an electrostatic latent image on the latent image body (photoreceptor), and the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body is developed. The subsequent image is transferred to a transfer material (transfer paper).

[0003]

However, the transfer state of the liquid developer differs depending on the transfer paper. For example, in the case of a transfer material having relatively good smoothness, the liquid developer can be uniformly transferred to the transfer material even if the liquid developer layer on the photoreceptor is thin, but as shown in FIG. In the case of the transfer paper 80 which is relatively poor, if the layer of the liquid developer 90 is thin, the liquid developer 90 on the photoconductor 1 may not be uniformly transferred to the transfer paper 80 in some cases. This is because the liquid developer 90 on the photoreceptor 1 cannot follow the unevenness of the transfer paper 80, and there is a case where the liquid developer 90 contacts and transfers only to the convex portion.

Further, in the case of the transfer paper 80 having a relatively low degree of absorbing the liquid developer 90, the liquid developer 9 between the transfer paper 80 and the photoreceptor 1 as shown in FIG.
Since the toner particles 91 are transferred from the photoconductor 1 to the transfer paper 80, the liquid developer 90 can be uniformly transferred to the transfer material even if the layer of the liquid developer 90 on the photoconductor 1 is thin.
On the other hand, in the case of the transfer paper 1 having a relatively good degree of absorbing the liquid developer 90, the carrier 92 is sequentially contacted with the liquid developer 90 from the portion where the liquid developer 90 contacts the transfer paper 80 as shown in FIG.
Is absorbed by the transfer paper 80, so that the carrier liquid seeps 81 on the transfer paper 80, and the toner particles 91 are transferred to the transfer paper 80.
Transfer may not be possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a disadvantage, and has as its object to form an image having an appropriate density by uniformly transferring toner particles to a transfer material.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming method comprising: forming a thin layer of a high-viscosity liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid at a thickness corresponding to the properties of a transfer material; A thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image formed on the carrier and the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image. The electrostatic latent image on the body is moved to the electrostatic latent image to be developed, and the toner image formed by the development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image.

In another image forming method, a high-viscosity liquid developing method in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid by rotating an application roller at an appropriate speed according to the properties of a transfer material for transferring a toner image. Forming a thin layer of the developer on the developer carrier using an application roller, and bringing the thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier into contact with the latent image formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image, The liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and the toner image formed by the development is transferred to a transfer material.

In another image forming method, a plurality of application rollers having different concave portions are provided, and an application roller having a concave portion having an appropriate volume according to the properties of a transfer material for transferring a toner image is selected. Using a selected application roller, a thin layer of high-viscosity liquid developer in which toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier, and an electrostatic latent image is developed on the latent image formed on the surface. A thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the developer, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to form an electrostatic latent image on the latent image body. Develop,
The toner image formed by development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image.

In another image forming method, a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid by pressing an application roller against a developer carrier with an appropriate pressure according to the properties of a transfer material for transferring a toner image. A thin layer of viscous liquid developer is formed on the developer carrier using an application roller, and a thin layer of liquid developer is formed on the developer carrier on a latent image body having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface. To move the liquid developer on the developer carrier to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and apply the toner image formed by development to the transfer material. Transfer to form an image.

In another image forming method, a film thickness regulating member is pressed against an application roller with an appropriate pressure according to the properties of a transfer material for transferring a toner image, and the amount of the liquid developer on the application roller is reduced. A thin layer of high-viscosity liquid developer in which toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier using an application roller, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the latent image body formed on the surface. The thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the developer, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body is moved. Is developed, and the toner image formed by the development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image.

In another image forming method, a thin layer of a highly viscous liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier using an application roller, and a toner image is transferred. The layer thickness of the liquid developer on the developer carrier was regulated by pressing the film thickness regulating member against the developer carrier with an appropriate pressure according to the properties of the transfer material to be formed, and an electrostatic latent image was formed on the surface. The thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image body, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body and The electrostatic latent image is developed, and the toner image formed by the development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image.

In another image forming method, a film thickness regulating roller is rotated at a speed corresponding to the property of a transfer material for transferring a toner image, the film thickness regulating roller is pressed against an application roller, and a liquid developing on the application roller is performed. By controlling the thickness of the developer, a thin layer of high-viscosity liquid developer in which toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier using an application roller, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. A thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the formed latent image body, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to an electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to form a latent image body. The upper electrostatic latent image is developed, and the toner image formed by the development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image.

In another image forming method, a thin layer of a highly viscous liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier using an application roller, and a toner image is transferred. The thickness of the liquid developer layer on the application roller is adjusted by rotating the film thickness regulating roller at a speed according to the properties of the transfer material to be transferred, and the developer is applied to the latent image body having the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface. A thin layer of liquid developer formed on the carrier is brought into contact with the developer, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body Then, the toner image formed by the development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image.

It is preferable to use a transfer material having properties within a predetermined range as the transfer material, use the surface roughness of the transfer material as the properties of the transfer material, or use the liquid developer absorbing power of the transfer material.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming method according to the present invention is a method for forming a thin layer of a high-viscosity liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid at a thickness corresponding to the properties of a transfer material for transferring a toner image. A thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image body formed on the developer carrier and the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is brought into contact therewith. By moving to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, developing the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and transferring the toner image formed by development to the transfer material to form an image, the properties of the transfer material This prevents the transfer of the toner from becoming defective in accordance with the image quality, thereby preventing the image quality from deteriorating.
Here, the properties of the transfer material include, for example, the smoothness of the surface of the transfer material and the water absorption of the transfer material.

As a method of forming a thin layer of liquid developer having a thickness corresponding to the properties of a transfer material for transferring a toner image on a developer carrier, for example, a thin layer of liquid developer is formed by using an application roller. There is a method in which the layer thickness of the liquid developer on the developer carrier is adjusted by adjusting the speed of the application roller so that the layer is formed on the developer carrier.

Also, a plurality of application rollers each having a different volume of the concave portion on the surface are provided, and an appropriate volume of the concave portion of the application roller is calculated according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image.
An application roller may be selected based on the calculated volume, and a thin layer of the liquid developer having an appropriate thickness may be formed on the developer carrier using the selected application roller.

Further, an appropriate pressure at which the application roller presses the developer carrier is calculated in accordance with the properties of the transfer material to which the toner image is transferred, and the application roller is pressed against the developer carrier with the calculated pressure. A thin layer of liquid developer having an appropriate thickness may be formed on the developer carrier.

Further, a film thickness regulating member for regulating the amount of the liquid developer on the application roller or the developer carrier by pressing against the application roller or the developer carrier is provided, and the property of the transfer material for transferring the toner image is improved. Accordingly, an appropriate pressure at which the film thickness regulating member presses the application roller or the developer carrier may be calculated, and the calculated pressure may be used to press the film thickness regulating member against the application roller or the developer carrier. Here, the film thickness regulating member includes a blade and a roller.

Further, a film thickness regulating roller for regulating the amount of the liquid developer on the application roller or the developer carrier by pressing the roller against the application roller or the developer carrier is provided. The layer thickness of the liquid developer on the developer carrier may be adjusted by adjusting the linear velocity of the film thickness regulating roller accordingly.

If the surface smoothness of the transfer material is too poor, uneven image density may occur. Similarly, if the water absorption of the transfer material is too good, uneven image density may occur. Therefore, it is preferable to limit the transfer material to be used to one having a property within a predetermined range.

[0022]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus using the image forming method of the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes, for example, a photoconductor (latent image body) 1, a charging roller 2, an exposure unit 3, a developing device 4, a transfer roller 5, a cleaning blade 61, and a cleaning lamp 62. The photoconductor 1 is charged by the charging roller 2 and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface by exposure of the exposure unit 3.

The developing device 4 has a liquid developer tank 41, a coating roller 42, a developing roller (developer carrier) 43, and a roller scraper 44. The liquid developer tank 41 is a part for storing a high-viscosity liquid developer 90 in which toner is dispersed at a high concentration in a dielectric carrier liquid, and includes stirring members 45 and 46 for stirring the liquid developer 90 inside. Application roller 42
The liquid developer 90 stored in the liquid developer tank 41 is thinned and applied to the developing roller 43. A predetermined bias is applied to the developing roller 43 by a bias applying unit (not shown), and the developing agent 43 transfers the liquid developer 90 to an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 1 in a developing area close to the photoconductor 1 to form a toner image. To form a visible image. Here, the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43 moves only to the image portion of the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 1, and the liquid developer 90 corresponding to the non-image portion is
3 remains on. For example, when the linear velocity of the developing roller 43 is the same as the linear velocity of the photosensitive member 1, a negative image of the liquid developer remains on the developing roller 43. This is because the liquid developer 90 has a high viscosity and therefore does not easily move on the developing roller 43. The roller scraper 44 passes through the developing area, removes the liquid developer 90 remaining on the developing roller 43 from the developing roller 43, and returns the liquid developer 90 to the developing solution tank 41 again.

The transfer roller 5 transfers the developed image on the photoreceptor 1 to a transfer paper 80. The cleaning blade 61 scrapes off the remaining liquid developer 90 from the portion of the photoconductor 1 after the transfer of the toner image. The cleaning lamp 62 removes electricity from the portion of the photoconductor 1 after cleaning.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the smoothness of the surface of the transfer paper 80 and the film thickness of the liquid developer 90 necessary for obtaining a good image. As shown in FIG. 2, the smoother the surface of the transfer paper 80, the thinner the liquid developer 90 on the photoreceptor 1 may be, and the rougher the surface of the transfer paper 80, the less the liquid developer 90 on the photoreceptor 1. Need to be thicker. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the liquid developer absorbing power of the transfer paper 80 and the film thickness of the liquid developer necessary for obtaining a good image. As shown in FIG. 3, as the liquid developer absorbing power of the transfer paper 80 is weaker, the carrier is less likely to be absorbed, and the film thickness of the liquid developer 90 on the photoreceptor 1 can be reduced. Conversely, the stronger the liquid developer absorbing power of the transfer paper 80, the stronger the carrier absorbing power, and it is necessary to increase the film thickness of the liquid developer 90 on the photoreceptor 1. Further, the linear velocity of the coating roller 42 and the liquid developer 9 on the developing roller 43
FIG. 4 shows the relationship with the layer thickness of 0. As shown in FIG. 4, the layer thickness of the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43 increases as the linear velocity of the application roller 42 increases. When the layer thickness of the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43 increases, the amount of the liquid developer 90 transferred to the photoconductor 1 increases, and the liquid developer 9 on the photoconductor 1 increases.
The 0 layer also becomes thicker. Therefore, it is preferable that the linear velocity of the application roller 42 be increased as the surface of the transfer paper 80 is rougher and as the liquid developer absorbing power of the transfer paper 80 is stronger.

Here, the properties of the transfer paper 80 are input, for example, from an operation panel (not shown). For example, an up / down switch and a display are provided on the operation panel, and the level of the property of the transfer paper 80 is input by the up / down switch.
The input can be confirmed on the display.

The operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the user inputs a level of the property of the transfer paper 80 from the operation panel when inputting an instruction for image formation (step S1).
The converter (not shown) is a transfer paper 80 input from the operation panel.
The voltage value used to rotate the application roller 42 is calculated based on the level (step S2). Where the converter is
For example, a conversion table or a conversion formula in which the rotation speed of the coating roller 42 corresponding to the property of the transfer paper 80 and a voltage value for rotating the coating roller 42 at the rotation speed are stored, and the conversion table or the conversion formula is stored. Is used to calculate a drive voltage value of a motor (not shown) that rotates the application roller 42, and sends the calculated voltage value to a control unit (not shown). The control unit applies a voltage to the motor that rotates the application roller 42 based on the voltage value received from the converter, and drives the application roller 42 (Step S3). As described above, since the linear speed of the application roller 42 is changed according to the properties of the transfer paper 80, the transfer paper 8
The thickness of the layer of the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43 can be controlled according to the property of 0, and the thickness of the layer of the liquid developer 90 on the photoconductor 1 can be controlled. As described above, by performing the image forming process by controlling the linear velocity of the application roller 42 (step S4), it is possible to form an appropriate and uniform density image on the transfer paper 80.

Here, in the above embodiment, the properties of the transfer paper 80 are input from the operation panel. However, a surface roughness meter or the like is provided, and the properties of the transfer paper 80 are automatically measured using the surface roughness meter or the like. You may do it.

The liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43
In order to adjust the thickness of the layer of
Instead of adjusting the linear velocity of 2, the developing device 4 is provided with a plurality of application rollers 42a to 42f as shown in FIG. 6, and the liquid developer on the development roller 43 using the application rollers 42a to 42f. The thickness of the 90 layers may be adjusted. Each of the application rollers 42a to 42f has unevenness 421 on the surface thereof, and the volume of the concave portion 421 of each of the application rollers 42a to 42f is different. The converter is transfer paper 8
The appropriate volume of the concave portion is calculated in accordance with the property of “0”, the application rollers 42 a to 42 f are selected based on the calculated volume, and the liquid developer 9 is selected using the selected application rollers 42 a to 42 f.
0 is formed on the developing roller 43. Here, the irregularities on the surfaces of the application rollers 42a to 42f may be arranged in a streak shape, or may be arranged in a twill shape or the like. Further, each concave portion may be arranged continuously or discontinuously.

As shown in FIG. 7, the layer of the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43 becomes thinner as the applying roller 42 is pressed strongly against the developing roller 43. Therefore, an appropriate pressure at which the application roller 42 presses the development roller 43 is calculated according to the properties of the transfer paper 80, and the application roller 42 is pressed against the development roller 43 with the calculated pressure to form a thin layer of the liquid developer 90. It may be formed on the developing roller 43.

As shown in FIG. 8, the developing device 4 may be provided with a film thickness regulating roller 48 as a film thickness regulating member for adjusting the amount of the liquid developer 90 on the application roller 42. As in the case shown in FIG. 7, the amount of the liquid developer 90 can be reduced by pressing the film thickness regulating roller 48 more strongly.
Therefore, depending on the properties of the transfer paper 80, the film thickness regulating roller 48
Calculates an appropriate pressure for pressing the application roller 42, and presses the film thickness regulating roller 48 against the application roller 42 with the calculated pressure. By pressing the film thickness regulating roller 48 against the application roller 42 with an appropriate pressure, the amount of the liquid developer 90 on the application roller 42 is adjusted, and the thickness of the thin layer of the liquid developer 90 formed on the development roller 43 is adjusted. Can be adjusted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the developing device 4 may be provided with a film thickness regulating roller 48 as a film thickness regulating member for adjusting the layer thickness of the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43. An appropriate pressure at which the film thickness regulating roller 48 presses the developing roller 43 is calculated according to the properties of the transfer paper 80, and the film thickness regulating roller 48 is pressed against the developing roller 43 with the calculated pressure. The developing roller 4 is pressed with the film thickness regulating roller 48 at an appropriate pressure.
By pressing the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43, the thickness of the thin layer of the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43 can be adjusted. Further, a film thickness regulating blade may be used instead of the film thickness regulating roller 48 as the film thickness regulating member.

The coating roller 42 and the film thickness regulating roller 4
8, the distance between the coating roller 42 and the film thickness regulating roller 48 and the ratio of the linear velocity between the application roller 42 and the film thickness regulating roller 48 (the linear velocity of the film thickness regulating roller) /
(Linear velocity of the application roller)｝ determines the film thickness of the liquid developer 90 on the application roller 42. When a fixed interval of several μm is provided between the application roller 42 and the film thickness regulating roller 48, as shown in FIG.
The larger the (linear velocity of the application roller), the thinner the film of the liquid developer 90 on the application roller 42. Accordingly, the linear velocity of the film thickness regulating roller 48 for forming a film of the liquid developer 90 having an appropriate thickness on the application roller 42 based on the properties of the transfer paper 80 is calculated,
The thickness regulating roller 48 may be rotated at the calculated speed to control the thickness of the liquid developer layer on the application roller 42 to an appropriate thickness. Here, even if the rotation direction of the film thickness regulating roller 48 is the same as the rotation direction of the coating roller 42,
The rotation direction of the application roller 42 may be opposite.

Similarly, (linear velocity of the film thickness regulating roller) /
The larger the (linear velocity of the developing roller), the thinner the film of the liquid developer 90 on the developing roller 43 becomes. Therefore, the linear velocity of the film thickness regulating roller 48 for forming a film of the liquid developer 90 having an appropriate thickness on the developing roller 43 based on the properties of the transfer paper 80 is calculated,
The thickness of the liquid developer layer on the developing roller 43 may be controlled to an appropriate thickness by rotating the film thickness regulating roller 48 at the calculated speed.

Further, if the smoothness of the surface of the transfer paper 80 is too poor as shown in FIG. 11, the degree of image density becomes poor as shown by the area G, and density unevenness may occur. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 12, if the carrier absorptivity of the transfer paper 80 is too good, the degree of image density becomes poor as shown by a region K, and uneven density may occur.
Therefore, the transfer paper 80 having the smoothness within the range indicated by the region H and the carrier absorbing property within the range indicated by the region J
It is better to use

Although the developing roller 43 is used as the developer carrying member in the above embodiment, a developing belt may be used instead of the developing roller 43.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, a thin layer of liquid developer having a thickness corresponding to the properties of the transfer material is formed on the developer carrier, so that the thin layer is always applied regardless of the properties of the transfer material. Good images can be obtained.

Further, since the coating roller is rotated at an appropriate speed according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image, a thin layer of the liquid developer having a thickness according to the properties of the transfer material is formed on the developer carrier. Can be formed.

Further, a plurality of coating rollers having different concave portions are provided, and an application roller having a concave portion having an appropriate volume according to the properties of a transfer material for transferring a toner image is selected.
Since a thin layer of liquid developer is formed on the developer carrier using the selected application roller, a thin layer of liquid developer having a thickness according to the properties of the transfer material is formed on the developer carrier. Can be.

Further, since the application roller is pressed against the developer carrier with an appropriate pressure according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image, a thin layer of the liquid developer is formed on the developer carrier. A thin layer of liquid developer having a thickness according to the properties of the transfer material can be formed on the developer carrier.

Further, since the film thickness regulating member is pressed against the application roller with an appropriate pressure according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image, a thin layer of the liquid developer on the application roller is applied in accordance with the properties of the transfer material. And a thin layer of liquid developer having a thickness according to the properties of the transfer material can be formed on the developer carrier.

Further, since the thickness regulating member is pressed against the developer carrier with an appropriate pressure according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image, a thin layer of the liquid developer on the developer carrier is transferred to the transfer material. The thickness can be adjusted according to the properties of

Further, the thickness of the liquid developer on the application roller is adjusted by rotating the film thickness regulating roller at an appropriate speed according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image. Make the thin layer of the agent a thickness according to the properties of the transfer material,
A thin layer of liquid developer having a thickness according to the properties of the transfer material can be formed on the developer carrier.

Further, since the thickness regulating roller is rotated at an appropriate speed according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image to regulate the layer thickness of the liquid developer on the developer carrier, the developer carrier The thin layer of the liquid developer above can be made to have a thickness according to the properties of the transfer material.

Further, since a transfer material having a property in a predetermined range is used, it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of density unevenness and the like.

Further, since the surface roughness of the transfer material and the liquid developer absorbing power of the transfer material are used as the properties of the transfer material, it is possible to cover the main factors of the transfer material in which the density unevenness occurs, and to surely prevent the density unevenness and the like. Generation can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between smoothness of a transfer material and a required developer film thickness.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between developer absorbency of a transfer material and a required developer film thickness.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a linear velocity of a coating roller and a liquid developer film thickness.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a developing device that selects and uses a plurality of application rollers.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a pressing pressure of an application roller and a film thickness of a liquid developer.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus having a film thickness regulating roller for adjusting the film thickness of an application roller.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus having a film thickness regulating roller for adjusting the film thickness of a developing roller.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a linear velocity of a film thickness regulating roller and a developer film thickness.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between transfer paper smoothness and image density status.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between carrier absorptivity of transfer paper and image density status.

FIG. 13 is a process chart in a case where an image is transferred to a transfer paper having irregularities on the surface.

FIG. 14 is a process chart in a case where an image is transferred to transfer paper having poor water absorption.

FIG. 15 is a process chart in a case where an image is transferred to a transfer paper having good water absorption.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photoconductor 2 charging roller 3 exposure unit 4 developing device 41 liquid developer tank 42 coating roller 43 developing roller 48 film thickness regulating roller 5 transfer roller 80 transfer paper 90 liquid developer

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A thin layer of a highly viscous liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier.
A thin layer of liquid developer formed on a developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image body having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body. To develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and transfer the toner image formed by the development to a transfer material to form an image. Forming a thin layer of a liquid developer having a reduced thickness on a developer carrier. 2. A latent image formed by forming a thin layer of a high-viscosity liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid on a developer carrier using an application roller, and forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface. A thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the developer, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, thereby causing the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to move. In an image forming method of developing a latent image and transferring the toner image formed by the development to a transfer material to form an image, the application roller is rotated at an appropriate speed according to the property of the transfer material to transfer the toner image. An image forming method, comprising: forming a thin layer of a liquid developer having a thickness according to the properties of a transfer material on a developer carrier. 3. A thin layer of a high-viscosity liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier using an application roller having an uneven surface to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. The thin layer of liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image formed on the developer carrier, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to form a latent image. In an image forming method in which an electrostatic latent image on a body is developed and a toner image formed by development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image, a plurality of application rollers having different concave volumes are provided to transfer the toner image. Select a coating roller having a concave portion with an appropriate volume according to the properties of the transfer material to be transferred, and use the selected coating roller to place a thin layer of liquid developer having a thickness according to the properties of the transfer material on the developer carrier. An image forming method comprising: 4. A latent image formed by forming a thin layer of a high-viscosity liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid on a developer carrier using an application roller, and forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface. A thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the developer, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, thereby causing the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to move. In an image forming method in which a latent image is developed and a toner image formed by development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image, the application roller is loaded with a developer with an appropriate pressure according to the properties of the transfer material to which the toner image is transferred. An image forming method, wherein a thin layer of a liquid developer having a thickness according to the properties of a transfer material is formed on a developer carrier by pressing against a body. 5. A thin film of a high-viscosity liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid by applying a thickness regulating member to an application roller to regulate an amount of the liquid developer on the application roller. A thin layer of liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image formed on the surface of the developer carrier using a roller, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the developer carrier. An image forming method for moving a liquid developer to an electrostatic latent image on a latent image body to develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and transferring a toner image formed by development to a transfer material to form an image 3. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the thickness regulating member is pressed against the application roller with an appropriate pressure according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image. 6. A thin layer of a highly viscous liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier using an application roller, and a film thickness regulating member is pressed against the developer carrier. Controlling the layer thickness of the liquid developer on the developer carrier by contacting the thin layer of the liquid developer formed on the developer carrier with the latent image body having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof. The liquid developer on the carrier is moved to the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body to develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and the toner image formed by development is transferred to a transfer material to form an image An image forming method, wherein a thickness regulating member is pressed against a developer carrying member at an appropriate pressure according to the properties of a transfer material for transferring a toner image. 7. A thin film of a high-viscosity liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid by applying a thickness regulating roller to an application roller to regulate an amount of the liquid developer on the application roller. A thin layer of liquid developer formed on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image formed on the surface of the developer carrier using a roller, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the developer carrier. An image forming method for moving a liquid developer to an electrostatic latent image on a latent image body to develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and transferring a toner image formed by development to a transfer material to form an image 3. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the liquid developer layer on the application roller is controlled by rotating the film thickness regulating roller at an appropriate speed according to the properties of the transfer material for transferring the toner image. 8. A thin layer of a highly viscous liquid developer in which a toner is dispersed in a dielectric carrier liquid is formed on a developer carrier using an application roller, and a thickness regulating roller is pressed against the developer carrier. Regulating the layer thickness of the liquid developer on the developer carrier,
A thin layer of liquid developer formed on a developer carrier is brought into contact with the latent image body having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface, and the liquid developer on the developer carrier is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body. To develop the electrostatic latent image on the latent image body, and transfer the toner image formed by the development to a transfer material to form an image. And controlling the thickness of the liquid developer layer on the developer carrier by rotating the film thickness regulating roller at an appropriate speed. 9. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein a transfer material having a property in a predetermined range is used as the transfer material. 10. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the surface roughness of the transfer material is used as the property of the transfer material. 11. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein a liquid developer absorbing power of the transfer material is used as the property of the transfer material.