Developing process for electrophotography

Claim 1

A developing process, for use in an electrophotographic copying machine of the wet developing type and which includes means providing an endless photosensitive surface cyclically movable along a predetermined endless path, and means disposed along the path for sequentially uniformly charging a portion of the photosensitive surface to a first potential, exposing the charged surface portion to an optical image to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, developing the latent image with a developing solution, having a toner dispersed therein of a charge opposite in polarity to the first potential, in a developing electrode arrangement maintained in opposing relation with the moving surface, removing any excessive solution from the moving surface, transferring the developed image onto copy sheets, cleaning the photosensitive surface, and eliminating any residual charge on the photosensitive surface, said process comprising the steps of charging at least the non-image portion of said moving surface to a second potential having a polarity opposite to that of the first potential at least prior to the time the non-image surface portion comes into opposing relationship with said electrode arrangement; maintaining, on said electrode arrangement, a third potential below a predetermined value which is lower than, and of the same polarity as, the first potential while said latent image carrying surface portion is passing by said electrode arrangement; and applying a fourth potential, lower than the second potential, to said electrode arrangement during the remaining time for one cycle that no image is present on said endless surface.