Liquid developer imaging apparatus having extended photo-conductor life

Abstract

An image forming apparatus using a liquid developer, which can be used for a long time without considering a swelling of a photoconductor material caused by the liquid developer and a heating characteristic of the photo-conductor material, is provided. The image forming apparatus used a liquid developers provides an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a charging means for charging the electrostatic latent image forming unit, a latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image forming unit, a belt type developed image carrier which rotates in a state that a part of the inside surface of the belt type developed image contacts firmly with the latent image forming unit, an electrostatically image transferring means for electrostatically transferring the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic latent image forming unit to the belt type developed image carrier, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image transferred on the belt type developed image carrier by transporting a liquid developer to the belt type developed image carrier, a squeezing means for squeezing the residual liquid developer from the developed image on the belt type developed image carrier by applying pressure, a vaporizing means for vaporizing the liquid developer contained in the developed image on the belt type developed image carrier by applying heat and pressure, and a transferring/fixing means for transferring and fixing on a recording medium the developed image after the residual liquid developer was squeezed and vaporized.