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 recording material including at least a liquid dispersion medium and an electrolyte contained therein; the electrolyte providing substantially no halogen ion in the liquid dispersion medium under electrolytic dissociation; the recording material being capable of changing its adhesiveness when imparted with a voltage by means of a pair of electrodes, thereby to selectively adhere to either one of the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording images on a recording medium has ink transport means for transporting fluid ink energy applying means for selectively applying to the ink transported by the ink transport means, transfer means for transferring to the recording medium the ink whose transfer characteristics has been changed in conformity with the selective application of the energy, coating means disposed upstream of the energy applying means with respect to the direction of transport of the ink by the ink transport means for supplying the ink onto the ink transport means, and biasing means for biasing the energy applying means against the ink transported by the ink transport means.

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.

Abstract: In a semi-solid ink to be used in the heat transfer recording method in which a semi-solid ink is heated to melt to flow out through passage holes and said semi-solid ink flowed out is transferred onto a recording medium, it has a viscosity of 100 to 10000 cps as measured by means of a cone disc rotatory viscometer under the conditions of a temperature of 25.degree. C. and a shear rate of 2000 S.sup.-1.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a housing for storing ink therein and a plurality of ink passage portions for allowing ink to pass from the housing to the exterior thereof. A plurality of heating elements are selectively heated so as to allow for the selective passage of ink through the plurality of ink passage portions. A spacer spaces apart the ink passage portions and a recording medium and also defines a temporary ink storing portion. In a recording method employing the recording head, the ink is heated by virtue of the heat of the heating elements, the ink having thus-reduced viscosity passing through the ink passage portions and transferred onto the recording medium, thereby obtaining a clearly recorded image.