| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 1 117 014 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
05.09.2001 Bulletin 2001/36 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
18.07.2001 Bulletin 2001/29 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 11.01.1993 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G03G 15/10 |
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
DE FR GB IT |
| (62) |
Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC: |
|
97202298.2 / 0813123 |
|
93902581.3 / 0678202 |
| (71) |
Applicant: INDIGO N.V. |
|
6229 GA Maastricht (NL) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Lior, Ishaiau
Ness Ziona 70400 (IL)
- Lavon, Amiran
Bat Yam 59576 (IL)
- Chatow, Ehud
Petach Tikva 49100 (IL)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Jorritsma, Ruurd et al |
|
Nederlandsch Octrooibureau Scheveningseweg 82 P.O. Box 29720
2502 LS Den Haag
2502 LS Den Haag (NL) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Latent image development apparatus |
(57) Imaging apparatus including:
- an image-forming surface having formed thereon a latent electrostatic image, the latent
electrostatic image including image regions at a first voltage and background regions
at a second voltage;
- a developer surface charged to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages
and having a second surface urged against and adapted for operative engagement with
the image-forming surface at a development region;
- an applicator assembly operative to apply a layer of concentrated liquid toner comprising
charged toner particles and carrier liquid onto the developer surface;
- a developer operative to develop the latent image by transferring less than the total
thickness of the layer of concentrated liquid toner from the developer surface to
the image regions of the image-forming surface thereby to form a developed image on
the image-forming surface; and
- apparatus for transferring the developed image from the image-forming surface to a
final substrate.