Patent · US Expired

Full-color electrophotographic apparatus using liquid toner containing resin

US6996361B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
6References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 28, 2003
Grant dateFeb 7, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 28, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/1671
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A full-color electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is configured such that a toner image is formed on an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer member is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the softening start temperature of resin contained in a liquid toner and equal to or lower than the withstand temperature of a photoconductor member. A carrier-removing roller to which bias can be applied abuts the intermediate transfer member so as to remove a carrier while packing softened toner by the force of an electric field induced by bias. In a transfer section for transfer to a printing medium, a backup roller presses the printing medium against the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the printing medium. Before being pressed against the toner image on the intermediate transfer member, the printing medium is heated. Bias is applied to the backup roller such that the toner image on the intermediate transfer is attracted toward the printing medium by the action of an electric field, thereby assisting transfer. By so doing, the intermediate transfer member does not need to un…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.