IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

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).