Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a toner carrier and a toner passing control having a plurality of toner passing holes for controlling passage of a toner. The toner passing control has upstream side secured, the downstream side extended by a spring, and is contacted with a stay on the downstream side of the contact point with the toner carrier, so that corrugation deformation is prevented. A vibrating plate and an ultrasonic vibration generator are coupled through a coupling portion, thereby relative displacement between the vibrating plate and the ultrasonic vibration generator is allowed. A detachable toner cartridge is formed by integrating a developing roller and a toner storing container.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes heat treatment element, a rotatable feeder roll chargeable to a predetermined first potential, a support roll chargeable to a predetermined second potential, and a matrix in the form of a flexible printing circuit. The matrix has supply apertures, each supply aperture having a first inner diameter and being surrounded by an electrically conducting control ring configured to be charged to a predetermined third potential and having a second inner diameter. The third potential is selected to control corresponding supply apertures between an open state and a closed state. The matrix has an upper surface which is covered with a protective layer having through holes, each through hole having a second diameter which is at least equal to the inner diameter of the control rings. The protective layer includes a non-magnetic metal. The matrix and the control rings are covered, at upper surfaces and bore edges, with an electrically insulating layer.

Abstract: An air flow is generated in a space adjacent to the toner control member 3, when an image is not being formed, and also a cleaning electric field for moving the toner away from the toner control member 3 is generated in the same space. For instance, a slit 2a is formed in an outer peripheral section of a cylindrical and rotatable counter electrode member 2, and an air flow generating source 10 such as a fan is connected to the counter electrode member 2. A convex cleaning electrode 11 is formed around the slit 2a of the counter electrode member 2, and a voltage for forming a cleaning electric field is applied from the power supply source for cleaning 8 to this cleaning electrode 11.

Abstract: A direct electrostatic printing device and method print an image to an information carrier with increased density during printing. This is attained by measuring undesired image density variations in a direction parallel to the relative movement between an image receiving member and a printhead structure. The density variations are caused by distance variations between the printhead structure and a pigment particle source during printing, which at least in part is caused by a relative movement between at least a part of the pigment particle source and the printhead structure. A control unit is arranged to control the transport of pigment particles in such a way as to compensate for these undesired image density variations during printing, thus attaining a percepted uniform image density along a printed image for a specific desired image density.

Abstract: A direct electrostatic printing device and method print an image to an information carrier with improved alignment between printed part images from two or more print stations. The improved alignment is based on a basic mechanical alignment with a basic accuracy between the print stations which is improved by an electronic alignment of the corresponding bitmaps. The electronic alignment is made possible by the capability of at least one print station to print at least one additional dot in relation to the corresponding bitmap. The minimum number of additional dots being dependent on the attained basic accuracy of the basic mechanical alignment.

Abstract: A direct recording apparatus comprises a recording roller for retaining charged toner particles, a back electrode provided as opposed to the recording roller to electrostatically attract the toner particles, a PC board disposed between the recording roller and the back electrode, and provided with apertures having a diameter through which the toner particles can pass, a first electrode disposed near the aperture in the PC board, to which a predetermined voltage is applied in order to more strongly attract the toner particles retained on the recording roller toward the back electrode, and a second electrode disposed near the aperture and on the side of the back electrode with respect to the first electrode in the PC board, to which a predetermined voltage is applied so that a group of toner particles passing through the aperture converges, wherein gradation of an image to be recorded are controlled by adjusting the application time of a pulse voltage to be applied to the first electrode depending on a base vol

Abstract: A direct recording apparatus of the invention comprises a recording roller 30 for transferring charged toner particles 38, a back electrode 44 opposed to the recording roller 30 to attract the toner particles 38, a PC board 50 disposed between the recording roller 30 and the back electrode 44 to control the toner particles 38 to jump or not to jump toward the back electrode 44. The PC board 50 of the invention is provided with a plurality of apertures 56 through which the toner particles 38 can pass. The periphery of the aperture 56 is provided with an electrode 68 to allow the toner particles 38 on the recording roller 30 to jump depending on electric signals. The electrode 68 has a shape wherein a part of a ring shape surrounding the aperture 56 is cut off in a direction of a rotation axis of the recording roller 30. This configuration can eliminate unevenness in image density without rotating the recording roller at high speed.

Abstract: Negatively charged toner particles on a record roller are attracted by a back electrode. When a first voltage is applied to a first electrode of a printed circuit board when this condition is present, the toner particles on the record roller are attracted more strongly so that they will jump toward a aperture in the printed circuit board. As the first voltage applied to the first electrode of the printed circuit board is turned off, a control section causes the potential difference between a second electrode and the back electrode to become smaller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct printing apparatus in which a good image is printed without background fog even if toner charge quantity is large. The direct printing apparatus is composed of a printing particles bearing member comprising a first roller 5 and a second roller 6, a backing electrode 13 and a printing head 15. The voltage applied to control electrodes 17 disposed around a plurality of holes 16 of the printing head 15 is controlled, whereby the printing particles 8 borne on the printing particles bearing member 5, 6 pass through the holes 16 of the printing head 15 to print the image on a print medium 2. A voltage having same polarity as the printing particles 8 borne on the bearing means 5, 6 and having electric potential more than that of surface layer of the printing particles 8 is applied to the control electrodes 17 corresponding to non-printing portions.

Abstract: A thermosensitive display device including a thermosensitive material applied in a thin layer, and an array of resistors arranged on a thin flexible film. Each one of said resistors has a thin planar configuration and extends in the plane of said flexible film and essentially covers a square-shaped area. The resistors are arranged to emit host energy all over said square-shaped area when fed with electricity. The thin layer with thermosensitive material is applied directly in thermal contact with the thin flexible film. The device further including means for controlling the temperature in each of said areas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct printing apparatus which prevents image noise from generating due to adhesion of toner to a spacer and enables to form a good image even if the apparatus is operated for a long period. The direct printing apparatus comprises a bearing member 30 for bearing printing particles 38 thereon, the printing particles 38 being charged to a predetermined polarity, a backing electrode 44 opposed to the bearing member 38, and a printing head 50 disposed between the bearing member 30 and the backing electrode 44. The printing head 50 has a plurality of apertures 56 through which the printing particles 38 can propel and a plurality of electrodes 68, 70 disposed around the plurality of apertures 56. The printing particles 38 are directly deposited on a print medium 8 which is conveyed between the backing electrode 44 and the printing head 50.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes heat treatment means, a rotatable feeder roll chargeable to a predetermined first potential, a support roll chargeable to a predetermined second potential, and a matrix in the form of a flexible printing circuit. The matrix has supply apertures, each supply aperture having a first inner diameter and being surrounded by an electrically conducting control ring configured to be charged to a predetermined third potential and having a second inner diameter. The third potential is selected to control corresponding supply apertures between an open state and a closed state. The first inner diameter of the control ring is at least equal to the second inner diameter of the supply aperture. The matrix and the electrically conducting control rings are covered on upper surfaces and aperture edges with an electrically insulating layer.

Abstract: An image recording device and method for recording an image to an information carrier. A printhead structure is placed in between a pigment particle source and a first face of an intermediate image receiving member. The printhead structure includes control electrodes connected to the control unit to thereby selectively open or close apertures through the printhead structure to permit or restrict the transport of pigment particles. The printhead structure includes deflection electrodes connected to the control unit for controlling the deflection of pigment particles in transport. The image recording device further comprises deflection control feedback means for providing a deflection feedback signal to the control unit to thereby control the deflection electrodes in such a way that pigment particles are, for formation of a pigment image on the intermediate image receiving member in view of the image which is to be recorded, treated toward predetermined locations on the intermediate image receiving member.

Abstract: A tandem type direct printing apparatus 2 comprising a plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d for depositing printing particles 38 on a print medium 8 to form a layer of printing particles. The plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are positioned in a moving direction of the print medium 8. The printing station positioned downstream with respect to the moving direction of the print medium forms a layer of printing particles on the layer of printing particles formed by the printing station positioned upstream. At least any one of the printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d is different in intention of the electric field from another by changing the voltage applied to the backing electrode 44 or the distance between the backing electrode 44 and the printing head 50 in accordance with a charge quantity of printing particles or the number of the layer of printing particles in the one of the printing stations.

Abstract: The tandem type direct printing apparatus 2 comprises a plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d for propelling printing particles 38 born on a bearing member 30 through a plurality of apertures 56 formed on a printing head 50 and for depositing the printing particles 38 on a print medium 8 to form an image. The plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are positioned in the moving direction of the print medium 8 to form the composite image on the print medium 8.

Abstract: An image recording device and method for recording an image onto an information carrier. An intermediate image receiving member has a first face and a second face. A voltage source is connected to a pigment particle source and a back electrode thereby creating an electrical field for transport of pigment particles from the pigment particle source toward the first face of the intermediate image receiving member. A printhead structure includes control electrodes to thereby be able to selectively open or close apertures through the printhead structure to permit or restrict the transport of pigment particles to thereby enable the formation of a pigment image on the first face of the intermediate image receiving member, which pigment image is subsequently transferred to an information carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct printing apparatus which prevents noise at a time of operation, downsizes the apparatus, prevents decrease of strength, and enables to certainly clean remaining printing particles. An endless belt member 92 disposed between a backing electrode 44 and a printing head 50 of printing station 16, the endless belt member 92 receiving the printing particles 38 which are propelled from the printing head and cleaning means for cleaning the printing particles adhering to the surface of the endless belt member are provided, whereby the printing particles adhering to the apertures of the printing head are collected on the endless belt member so that the printing particles are recovered by the cleaning means. Concretely, the backing electrode is applied with a voltage of opposite polarity to the printing particles adhering to the printing head whereby the printing particles adhering to the apertures of the printing head is cleaned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct electrostatic printing method, in which a stream of computer generated signals, defining an image information, are converted to a pattern of electrostatic fields which selectively permit or restrict the transport of charged toner particles from a particle source toward a back electrode and control the deposition of those charged toner particles in an image configuration onto an image receiving medium.

Abstract: A direct electrostatic printing device and method print an image to an information carrier with increased edge smoothness. By controlling the transport of toner particles, dots can, if needed, be adjusted from the exact alignment of a dot matrix to form smoother edges that are not aligned with the dot matrix. The control of toner particle transport can be effectuated by time displacement of the opening and closing of the apertures, and/or modification of the deflection voltages. A further improvement is the control of the deflection voltages for controlling the size of the dots, alone or in combination with the position modification of the dots.

Abstract: In an image forming device wherein printing is accomplished such that passing of charged toners fed from a developer roller 2 through a plurality of openings 14 is controlled by control electrodes 16 of an aperture electrode 12 in accordance with image signals, toners held on the developer roller 2 are caused to reach the vicinity of the openings 14, by inputting a predetermined signal to the control electrodes 16 of the aperture electrode 12, at least once during the period when no image forming action in accordance with the prescribed image signals is performed.