Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Namabu Mochizuki

Tsuneo Kurotori

Kenzo Ariyama

An image fixing method for use in a wet-type electrophotographic copying machine is disclosed, which comprises the steps of: (1) developing a latent electrostatic image formed on an electrophotographic photoconductor element to a visible toner image by use of a developer comprising a thermal cross-linking toner and a carrier liquid, (2) transferring the visible toner image to a transfer sheet having an oil absorption coefficient .alpha. of 1.0.times.10.sup.-2 cm/sec or more, which is assessed by dividing the thickness of the transfer sheet by the time required for a drop of the carrier liquid placed on the front side of the transfer sheet to spread to a diameter of 1 cm on the back side of the transfer sheet, to form a transferred image on the transfer sheet, and (3) fixing the transferred image to the transfer sheet by bringing a heat application means into direct contact with the transferred image.

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Yokohama, Japan

Namabu Mochizuki