Image forming apparatus having a first squeeze roller rotated in an opposite direction to a photosensitive member

Abstract

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first squeeze roller faced to the photosensitive member with a predetermined distance maintained therefrom and rotated in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the photosensitive member, thereby to remove a surplus developing solution which exists on the photosensitive member after development, and a second squeeze roller provided in contact with the photosensitive member and rotated in the same direction as the photosensitive member with no speed difference therebetween as the photosensitive member rotates, thereby to remove a solvent contained in a toner image formed by developing the latent image. The first squeeze roller is rotated at a moving speed which is 2 to 3 times higher than a speed at which the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive member moves. The second squeeze roller is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive member with a pressure which provides a nip width of 1 to 2 mm. As a result of this, a solvent film which does not contain the toner in which the floating toner that has not stuck to the latent image or the developing roller remains, and a solvent remaining between toner grains accumulated on the latent image are removed.