Abstract: In an image recording apparatus for recording an image on an image recording medium, a particle controller having at least one aperture receives electrically charged particles and selectively allows the electrically charged particles to pass through the aperture. A back electrode is positioned to confront the particle controller, with a space being formed between the back electrode and the particle controller for enabling passage of an image recording medium. The back electrode electrostatically attracts the electrically charged particles having passed through the aperture of the particle controller in a direction toward the back electrode so that the electrically charged particles may be attached to the image recording medium positioned in the space. The particle controller is vibrated with a vibration acceleration having a value equal to or larger than 500 G.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus which directly controls a flow of charged toner particles by a toner particle control electrode and records an image on an image recording medium. The image recording apparatus has a toner particle supply portion for supplying toner particles charged with a first polarity and a toner particle control electrode for controlling the toner particles supplied by the toner particle supply portion according to an image to be recorded. An intermediate recording medium attracts toner particles controlled by the toner particle control portion and a toner image is formed on the intermediate medium. A transferring station transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate recording medium to an image recording medium. A thermal fixing station fixes the toner image which is transferred to the image recording medium by the transferring station, on the image recording medium.

Abstract: In an aperture electrode and a method for manufacturing the same, two metal layers are formed on both surfaces of a thin ceramic insulating substrate by a thin film forming process such as sputtering, and then plural control electrodes are formed on one surface of the substrate by patterning the metal layer on the surface with photoetching, thereby forming a basic body of the aperture electrode. Thereafter, an aperture for passing toners therethrough is formed substantially at the center of each control electrode by drilling the basic body or irradiating laser beam of an excimer laser source to the basic body.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus of the invention generates an electric field between a particle control electrode, which has apertures, and an electrode roller to directly control the flow of toner particles to record an image on an image recording medium which passes between the electrode and the roller. While the image is recorded, a piezoelectric member mounted on the particle control electrode causes the particle control electrode to vibrate using variable oscillation frequency which will coincide, at least at one time, with the resonance frequency of the particle control electrode. The oscillation frequency is applied from a variable frequency oscillator to the piezoelectric member so that the control electrode is vibrated at a large amplitude. As a result, the toner particles do not adhere to the apertures and the apertures do not become clogged with the toner particles. A high-quality output image will thus be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image recording apparatus which directly controls a flow of toner particles for recording an image on a recording medium. The image recording apparatus of the invention, for recording an image on an image recording medium according to an image signal, has a toner particle supplying portion for supplying charged toner particles and a control electrode for directly controlling the flow of toner particles supplied from the toner particles supplying portion. The control electrode has a first electrode layer which has a thin board-like shape. The first electrode layer is provided on a base insulating material of the control electrode and is disposed facing to the toner particles supplying portion with a predetermined space therebetween. A first voltage power supply supplies a predetermined voltage, having at opposite polarity to that of the charged toner particles, to the first electrode layer.

Abstract: A developer material coating apparatus for coating a developer toner on a support member such as a plain paper to form an image on the support member, includes a developer toner coating unit for triboelectrically charging the developer toner and electrostatically coating the charged developer toner on the support member and at least one of heaters for heating the support member before and/or after the support member being coated with the charged developer toner, thereby to heighten adhesion between the support member and the developer toner.