Abstract: A method for transferring a viscous substance, including the steps of: providing a viscous substance capable of changing its adhesiveness corresponding to the polarity of a voltage applied thereto; disposing the viscous substance between a first electrode and a second electrode; and applying a voltage to the viscous substance plural times, thereby to reduce the adhesiveness of the viscous substance to the first electrode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method for forming an image includes a recording material which changes its adhesiveness in response to the polarity of the voltage applied thereto. Such a recording material can include negatively or positively changeable or inorganic particles, gas-generating solvents, a substance having a gel or sol state, and a dissociative electrolyte. The recording material is positioned between a pair of electrodes. At least one of the electrodes includes an electroconductive member and a pattern comprising an insulating material disposed on the electroconductive member. A voltage is then applied between the pair of electrodes to attach the recording material to one of the electrodes. Also provided is a pressure applicator for transferring to a transfer-receiving medium the recording material attached to the electrode.

Abstract: A method for supplying a viscous substance includes providing a viscous substance capable of changing its adhesiveness corresponding to the polarity of a voltage to be applied thereto; supplying the viscous substance between a pair of electrodes; and applying a pulse voltage between the pair of electrodes thereby to attach to at least one of the pair of electrodes the viscous substance of which amount corresponds to the effective duration factor of the pulse voltage.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for forming an image which includes providing a recording composition capable of changing its adhesivity corresponding to the polarity of a voltage applied thereto between a pair of electrodes. The recording composition has a transfer characteristic having a tendency to change by loss of at least one component of the recording composition. A voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes to attach the recording composition to one of the pair of electrodes to attach the recording composition to one of the pair of electrodes. Any such change in the transfer characteristic of the recording composition is detected during the process. In response to any change in the transfer characteristic additional component is added to the recording composition to compensate for that change.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a master having a conductive portion and an insulating portion which form a pattern; an applicator for applying the ink material on the master wherein deposition of the ink material onto the master is different depending on a direction of electric current flowing through the ink material; an excessive ink material remover, contactable to the ink material applied on the master by the applicator, for removing excessive ink material with a voltage applied between the master and the excessive ink material remover.

Abstract: A method for supplying a viscous substance includes the step of providing a viscous substance having an adhesive characteristic which changes in correspondence to a polarity of a voltage applied thereto. The viscous substance has an adhesive characteristic when no voltage is applied thereto and its adhesiveness is reduced when a voltage is applied thereto. The method further includes the step of supplying the viscous substance between a pair of electrodes at least one of which has a pattern comprising an electroconductive portion and an insulating pattern. The method also includes the step of applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes to thereby attach the viscous substance in an amount which corresponds to the ratio of the area of the electroconductive portion to the area of the insulating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: an electroconductive substrate; an electroconductive member disposed opposite to the electroconductive substrate; a plate-forming unit for forming an insulating pattern on the electroconductive substrate; a supplier for providing a recording material between the electroconductive substrate and the electroconductive member, the recording material being capable of changing its adhesiveness corresponding to the polarity of a voltage applied thereto; and a voltage source for applying a voltage between the electroconductive substrate and the electroconductive member.

Abstract: A fluid ink which is substantially nonadhesive but can be imparted with an adhesiveness on application of an energy such as electrochemical energy or heat energy, is obtained by impregnating a crosslinked substance such as guar gum or polyvinyl alcohol compound with a liquid dispersion medium such as water. The fluid ink, preferably formed into a layer in advance, is supplied with a pattern of energy to be provided with an adhesive pattern, which is then transferred to a recording medium, such as plain paper, directly or by the medium of an intermediate transfer medium to form an ink pattern corresponding to the energy pattern applied.

Abstract: An image recording method and an image recording apparatus using an ink which is substantially non-adhesive but can be imparted with an adhesiveness when subjected to a pH change. In the image recording method, the ink is subjected to a pattern of pH change to be provided with an adhesive pattern, which is then transferred to a recording medium, such as plain paper, directly or by the medium of an intermediate transfer medium to form an ink pattern corresponding to the pH change pattern.

Abstract: A process of recording using fluid ink which is substantially non-adhesive but can be imparted with an adhesiveness on application of an energy such as electrochemical energy or heat energy. The ink is obtained by impregnating a crosslinked substance such as guar gum or polyvinyl alcohol compound with a liquid dispersion medium such as water. The fluid ink, preferably formed into a layer in advance, is supplied with a pattern of energy to be provided with an adhesive pattern, which is then transferred to a recording medium, such as plain paper, directly or by the medium of an intermediate transfer medium to form an ink pattern corresponding to the energy pattern applied.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium comprises ink transporting roll for transporting a fluid ink, energy applying element for selectively applying energy to the ink transported by the ink transporting roll, transfer member for transferring to the recording medium the ink whose transfer characteristics are changed upon selectively application of the energy and coating member disposed in an upstream of the energy applying element with respect to a transporting direction of the ink transporting roll so as to oppose the ink transporting roll, for supplying the ink having a predetermined thickness to the ink transporting roll. A distance between the ink transporting roll and the coating member is gradually reduced from the upstream to a downstream.

Abstract: An ink which can be imparted with an adhesiveness on application of an electric current is obtained by impregnating a crosslinked substance such as guar gum or polyvinyl alcohol compound with a liquid dispersion medium such as water. The ink is supplied with a pattern of energy to be provided with an adhesive pattern, which is then transferred to a recording medium, such as plain paper, directly or by the medium of an intermediate transfer medium to form an ink pattern corresponding to the energy pattern applied. The ink further comprises a buffer action-imparting substance and is excellent in storage stability and stability of performances during a continuous use.