Aetas Technology Corporation

Michio Matsumoto

Takeo Endo

Yuji Hiraoka

Chi-Sheng Huang

Yugi Hiraoka

A liquid electrophotographic developing apparatus including a developing unit with an elongated opening disposed adjacent to a photoreceptor and an air duct provided around the elongated opening. The air flow in the air duct has a predetermined air pressure to hold a liquid developer within a space substantially between the developing unit and the image-bearing surface while permitting toner particles in the liquid developer deposited on the image-bearing surface to be retained by the image&mdash;bearing surface and volatile solvent to be vaporized.

Liquid electrophotographic developing apparatus using air pressure to hold liquid developer therewithin

In the particular embodiments described in the specification, a liquid electrophotographic developing arrangement includes four developing units disposed adjacent to the image-bearing surface of an electrophotographic member, each developing unit containing a different color developer. Each developing unit has an elongated slit through which developer is applied to the image-bearing surface of the electrophotographic member and the liquid developer is magnetically retained in the space between the developing unit and the surface of the electrophotographic member. In one embodiment, the developer is retained by a ferrofluid which surrounds the elongated opening and is held in position by magnets disposed on opposite sides of the electrophotographic member. In another embodiment, the developer is a ferrofluid and is retained in position by magnets on opposite sides of the elongated opening which produce an electromagnetic field in the space between the elongated opening and the surface of the electrostatic member.

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Tokyo-do, Japan

Michio Matsumoto