Imaging method and apparatus

摘要

PCT No. PCT/NL90/00099 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 14, 1992 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 14, 1992 PCT Filed Jul. 23, 1990 PCT Pub. No. WO91/03007 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 7, 1991.A method and apparatus for transferring liquid toner images from an image forming surface (10) to an intermediate transfer member (40) for subsequent transfer to a final substrate (42). the liquid toner images include carrier liquid and pigmented polymeric toner particles which are essentially non-soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature, and which form a single phase at elevated temperatures. The method includes the steps of: concentrating the liquid toner image by compacting the solids portion of the liquid toner image and removing carrier liquid therefrom; transferring the liquid toner image to the intermediate transfer member (40), heating the liquid toner image on the intermediate transfer member (40) to a temperature at which the toner particles and the carrier liquid form a single phase; and transferring the heated liquid toner image to a final substrate (42).