EP0410738A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus
Assignee: Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-07-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-07-25
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, in which toner electrically charged in a prescribed polarity is fed from a toner feed means into a toner passage of a toner control means. A predetermined voltage is applied to an electrode of the toner control means in accordance with image signals given by an image information generating means, thereby forming an electric field for directing the toner through the toner passage from the toner-feed side to the toner ejection side of the toner control means. After passing through the toner passage, the toner falls down onto the recording paper placed on a base electrode, thereby forming a desired toner image thereon. Ultrasonic vibration with a variable frequency is applied to the toner control means to allow the toner to uniformly fall down therefrom. A prescribed voltage is applied to the base electrode to form an electric field for accelerating the falling of the toner from the toner control means toward the recording sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Kokado
- 👤 Osamu Takemura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:49
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/385; B41J2/41; B41J2/415; B41J2/4155; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/34; G03G15/344; G03G15/346; G03G2217/00; G03G2217/0008; G03G2217/0025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner feed means for feeding toner electrically charged in a prescribed polarity; a toner control means including a plate provided with a toner passage through which the toner fed from said toner feed means can pass, and including an electrode for forming an electric field within said toner passage, said electric field directing said toner through said toner passage from the toner-feed side to the toner-ejection side of said plate; an ultrasonic vibration generating means for applying ultrasonic vibration to said toner control means; an image information generating means for applying a predetermined voltage to said electrode of said toner control means in accordance with image information, thereby allowing said electrode to form said electric field; and a base electrode located at the toner-ejection side of said toner control means and appropriately spaced apart therefrom, to which base electrode a predetermined voltage is applied to form an electric field for directing said toner from said toner passage toward said base electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner feed means for feeding toner electrically charged in a prescribed polarity; a toner control means including a plate provided with a toner passage through which the toner fed from said toner feed means can pass, and including an electrode for forming an electric field within said toner passage, said electric field directing said toner through said toner passage from the toner-feed side to the toner-ejection side of said plate; an ultrasonic vibration generating means for applying ultrasonic vibration to said toner control means; an image information generating means for applying a predetermined voltage to said electrode of said toner control means in accordance with image information, thereby allowing said electrode to form said electric field; and a base electrode located at the toner-ejection side of said toner control means and appropriately spaced apart therefrom, to which base electrode a predetermined voltage is applied to form an electric field for directing said toner from said toner passage toward said base electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic vibration generating means produces ultrasonic waves, the frequency of which can be changed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said electrode comprises a pair of mesh electrodes insulated from each other and mounted on either side of said plate so as to cover each opening of said toner passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said electrode comprises a mesh electrode mounted on the toner-feed side of said plate to cover one of the openings of said toner passage, and also comprises a ring electrode disposed on the toner-ejection side of said plate, the interior space of said ring electrode communicating with the other opening of said toner passage, and said ring electrode and said mesh electrode being insulated from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said electrode comprises a pair of plate electrodes insulated from each other and mounted on either side of said plate, each of said plate electrodes having a hole passing therethrough and communicating with each opening of said toner passage.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said toner feed means is a sponge roller having sponge on the circumference thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner feed means for feeding toner electrically charged in a prescribed polarity; a toner control means including a conductive plate provided with a toner passage through which the toner fed from said toner feed means can pass, and an electrode mounted on said conductive plate, said electrode and said conductive plate being capable of forming an electric field within said toner passage, said electric field directing said toner through said toner passage from the toner-feed side to the toner-ejection side of said conductive plate; an ultrasonic vibration generating means for applying ultrasonic vibration to said toner control means ; an image information generating means for producing a potential difference between said conductive plate and said electrode of said toner control means in accordance with image information, thereby allowing said conductive plate and said electrode to form said electric field; and a base electrode which is located at the toner-ejection side of said toner control means and appropriately spaced apart therefrom, and to which a predetermined voltage is applied to form an electric field for directing said toner from said toner passage toward said base electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner feed means for feeding toner electrically charged in a prescribed polarity; a toner control means including a conductive plate provided with a toner passage through which the toner fed from said toner feed means can pass, and an electrode mounted on said conductive plate, said electrode and said conductive plate being capable of forming an electric field within said toner passage, said electric field directing said toner through said toner passage from the toner-feed side to the toner-ejection side of said conductive plate; an ultrasonic vibration generating means for applying ultrasonic vibration to said toner control means ; an image information generating means for producing a potential difference between said conductive plate and said electrode of said toner control means in accordance with image information, thereby allowing said conductive plate and said electrode to form said electric field; and a base electrode which is located at the toner-ejection side of said toner control means and appropriately spaced apart therefrom, and to which a predetermined voltage is applied to form an electric field for directing said toner from said toner passage toward said base electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electrode is in the form of mesh and mounted on the toner-feed side of said conductive plate to cover one of the openings of said toner passage, said electrode being insulated from said conductive plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said ultrasonic vibration generating means produces ultrasonic waves, the frequency of which can be changed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
178 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner control means including a conductive plate provided with a toner passage through which toner can pass, said toner being electrically charged in a prescribed polarity; a toner feed means for feeding said toner onto said conductive plate of said toner control means, said toner feed means including a conductive portion; an ultrasonic vibration generating means for applying ultrasonic vibration to said toner control means; an image information generating means for producing a potential difference between said conductive portion of said toner feed means and said conductive plate in accordance with image information, thereby forming an electric field within said toner passage, said electric field directing said toner through said toner passage from the toner-feed side to the toner-ejection side of said conductive plate; and a base electrode which is located at the toner-ejection side of said toner control means and appropriately spaced apart therefrom, and to which a predetermined voltage is applied so as to form an electric field for directing said toner from said toner passage toward said base electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
178 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner control means including a conductive plate provided with a toner passage through which toner can pass, said toner being electrically charged in a prescribed polarity; a toner feed means for feeding said toner onto said conductive plate of said toner control means, said toner feed means including a conductive portion; an ultrasonic vibration generating means for applying ultrasonic vibration to said toner control means; an image information generating means for producing a potential difference between said conductive portion of said toner feed means and said conductive plate in accordance with image information, thereby forming an electric field within said toner passage, said electric field directing said toner through said toner passage from the toner-feed side to the toner-ejection side of said conductive plate; and a base electrode which is located at the toner-ejection side of said toner control means and appropriately spaced apart therefrom, and to which a predetermined voltage is applied so as to form an electric field for directing said toner from said toner passage toward said base electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said toner feed means is a sponge roller comprising a conductive roller portion and an insulating sponge portion disposed on the circumferential surface thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said ultrasonic vibration generating means produces ultrasonic waves, the frequency of which can be changed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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