Image forming apparatus
View Patent ↗An image forming apparatus includes a developing member that, while rotating, supplies a liquid developer to an image carrier and develops a latent image formed on the image carrier using the liquid developer, a layer-forming device that forms a developer layer, which is a layer formed from the liquid developer, on the developing member, a charging device that charges the developer layer formed on the developing member by the layer-forming device, the charging device being located upstream of the image carrier in a direction of rotation of the developing member, and a heating device that heats the developer layer formed on the developing member by the layer-forming device. The heating device is located upstream of the charging device and downstream of the layer-forming device in the direction of rotation of the developing member.
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a developing member that, while rotating, supplies a liquid developer to an image carrier and develops a latent image formed on the image carrier using the liquid developer;
a layer-forming device that forms a developer layer, which is a layer formed from the liquid developer, on the developing member;
a charging device that charges the developer layer formed on the developing member by the layer-forming device, the charging device being located upstream of the image carrier in a direction of rotation of the developing member; and
a heating device that locally heats the developer layer formed on the developing member by the layer-forming device,
wherein the heating device is located upstream of the charging device and downstream of the layer-forming device in the direction of rotation of the developing member.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cooling device that cools the developer layer on the developing member,
wherein the cooling device cools a portion of the developer layer that is located upstream of the image carrier and downstream of the charging device in the direction of rotation of the developing member.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the developing member is a belt that is stretched between a plurality of rollers.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the developing member is a belt that is stretched between a plurality of rollers.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the cooling device contacts the developer layer and a voltage is applied to the cooling device.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the developing member is a hollow developing roller, and
wherein the cooling device is disposed inside the developing roller.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heating device is located outside of the developing member and the layer-forming device.