Abstract: A light-emitting device including: a light-emitting unit extending in one direction; an emission surface that is provided at the light-emitting unit along the one direction, and emits light in a light-emitting direction, the light-emitting direction and the one direction crossing each other; a base that is located in a direction opposite to the light-emitting direction of the light-emitting unit, and on which the light-emitting unit is removably provided; and a cleaning mechanism that includes a cleaning unit cleaning the emission surface by moving along the one direction, the cleaning mechanism allowing the light-emitting unit to be removed from the base while at least a portion of the cleaning mechanism remains on an object other than the light-emitting unit.

Abstract: A display device includes an electronic paper display and a ground electrode. The electronic paper display is imageable by receiving charges on a charge receiving layer of the electronic paper display. The ground electrode is opposite to the charge receiving layer of the electronic paper display and exposed at an edge of the display device.

Abstract: A method for marking a printed object is disclosed. For example, the method includes printing a three-dimensional (3D) object via a fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer, receiving a desired color marking to be marked on a surface of the 3D object, and controlling a point energy source to emit energy on a thermal treatment layer of the 3D object in accordance with the desired color marking.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a display panel, a sheet conveying passage, a reading unit, a light source, a chassis, and a controller. The reading unit includes a light transmitting plate and a conveying image sensor. The conveying image sensor reads a conveyed sheet, which is a sheet to print on. The chassis has a cleaning hole in which to insert a cleaning rod for rubbing the light-transmitting plate. In a maintenance mode, the controller turns on the light source, and makes the display panel display a graph showing the pixel values of the pixels included in conveyed-and-read image data acquired by reading with the conveying image sensor.

Abstract: A cable gripping structure for securing an optical fiber cable in an optical fiber connector possesses a base part and a pair of support walls disposed opposite one another on the base part, and blade parts for gripping the optical fiber cable are disposed on the pair of support walls, at the tip ends thereof and separated from the bases of the support walls.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members, replaceable development units, replaceable toner replenishing members, toner supply units, and a control unit. The development units are each provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of image bearing members. The toner replenishing members are each provided for a corresponding one of the development units. The toner supply units are arranged between the respective toner replenishing members and the development units. The control unit causes the image forming apparatus to execute a toner supply unit cleaning mode to convey a last-used toner inside the toner supply unit into the development unit which is last used and to be replaced to empty the toner supply unit, when replacement of the development unit and the corresponding toner replenishing member is designated to use a toner of a type different from the last-used toner.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting method for ejecting a liquid from at least one ejection hole to form the liquid into liquid droplets, the method including: applying a vibration to the liquid in a liquid column resonance-generating liquid chamber, in which the ejection hole is formed, to form a standing wave through liquid column resonance, and ejecting the liquid from the ejection hole, which is formed in a region corresponding to an antinode of the standing wave, to form the liquid into liquid droplets.

Abstract: A container includes: a container body that is to be inserted into the device, and that has a port; and a pair of support members arranged so that the support members face each other across the port, that supports a cover for covering the port, the cover including: a covering portion that covers the port; a pair of supported members that are supported by the support members; and a pair of connecting portions arranged so that the connecting portions face each other, that connects the covering portion and the supported members, and at least one of the connecting members being configured so that the connecting member becomes narrow as an outside surface of the connecting member tapers towards its inside surface at an end of the container body inserted into the device.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a printing method that can utilize a lightly pigmented toner along with a darkly pigmented toner to improve the image quality. The method can include receiving a dataset corresponding to a printing of a printing system using a darkly pigmented toner. The printing system may have an undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner. Further, the method can include converting the dataset to a first dataset corresponding to a first printing of the printing system using the darkly pigmented toner, and a second dataset corresponding to a second printing of the printing system using a lightly pigmented toner. The first dataset can avoid the undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner, and a combination of the first printing and the second printing providing a substantially same printed optical density corresponding to the received dataset.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an image drum includes fixing a control circuit board inside the drum body so that a plurality of terminals of the control circuit board are located in the slot formed longitudinally on the drum body, forming an insulation layer to the entire external surface of the drum body, forming connection parts by removing parts of the insulation layer where the terminals of the control circuit board are formed, forming electrode forming grooves including the insulation layer as a base on the external surface of the drum body comprising the connection parts thereon, and forming a plurality of ring electrodes to be connected to respective terminals among the plurality of the terminals, respectively, through the connection parts.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning unit having a light transmitting portion, the cleaning mechanism that includes a cleaning rod with a pad at a front end portion thereof to be capable of cleaning a surface of the light transmitting portion by sliding on the light transmitting portion, and a retaining mechanism that retains the cleaning rod slidably in a longitudinal direction of the light transmitting portion, and that retains the pad positioned above the optical scanning unit and spaced apart from the optical scanning unit in a state where the cleaning rod is at an insertion completed position.

Abstract: A multi-functional sensor for deriving information on a recording sheet material comprising an impact-applying unit for applying an external mechanical force onto the recording sheet material, a signal-detecting unit for detecting a signal of response of the recording sheet material to the external mechanical force, a signal-processing unit for processing the signal, and a signal-judging unit for deriving a property of the recording sheet material by comparison of a signal from the signal-detecting unit or the signal processing unit with information memorized preliminarily, wherein the signal-processing unit comprises a separation section for separating the signal from the signal-detecting unit into output signals on the properties of the recording sheet material, and a processing section for deriving, by statistical treatment, a correlation equation showing a correlation between the separated output signal and the properties of the recording sheet material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses toner that is given color-generation information and a color-generation state or a non-color-generation state of the toner is controlled, and includes an image carrier, a unit that forms toner image on the image carrier, an intermediate transfer medium that the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to, a first transfer unit that transfers the toner image to the intermediate transfer medium surface, a unit that gives color-generation information to the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer medium, a second transfer unit that transfers the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer medium surface to a recording medium, a unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording medium and a unit that causes color generation in the toner image that the color-generation information is given.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid development apparatus that can form a uniformly thin layer of high-density liquid developer on the development roller, thereby forming images free of uneven density or toner fog, and another objective is to provide an inexpensive and compact liquid development apparatus which increases the flexibility in the arrangement. A liquid development apparatus in which a liquid developer supply head having a liquid developer discharge outlet for applying a liquid developer on the surface of the development roller is equipped with a section for reducing the viscosity of the liquid developer.

Abstract: An electronic printer comprising a source of charged toner particles, a writing head capable of imaging individual toner particles, means to transfer the toner image to a print substrate, and a fuser. The writing head employs toner conveyors driven by voltage traveling waves. Imaging is achieved using a diverter electrode in each toner conveyor, and diverted toner is returned to the toner source. High speed is achieved using a plurality of independent toner conveyors that operate in parallel. A printing press capable of printing variable images at 200 feet per minute with a print width of 48 inches and a print resolution of 2,400 dots per inch is described.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses toner that is given color-generation information and a color-generation state or a non-color-generation state of the toner is controlled, and includes an image carrier, a unit that forms toner image on the image carrier, an intermediate transfer medium that the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to, a first transfer unit that transfers the toner image to the intermediate transfer medium surface, a unit that gives color-generation information to the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer medium, a second transfer unit that transfers the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer medium surface to a recording medium, a unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording medium and a unit that causes color generation in the toner image that the color-generation information is given.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning unit having a light transmitting portion, the cleaning mechanism that includes a cleaning rod with a pad at a front end portion thereof to be capable of cleaning a surface of the light transmitting portion by sliding on the light transmitting portion, and a retaining mechanism that retains the cleaning rod slidably in a longitudinal direction of the light transmitting portion, and that retains the pad positioned above the optical scanning unit and spaced apart from the optical scanning unit in a state where the cleaning rod is at an insertion completed position.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for adjusting dry ink concentration in a developing station (30) of a printer is disclosed. The adjustment is performed by calculating the thermal drift of a dry ink monitor (40) and applying the result as a compensating factor in calculations in a software algorithm. The dry ink monitor (40) has a sensing port (42) in contact with a dry ink concentration and is connected to a dry ink monitor interface board (10) that houses a temperature sensor (20). The monitor interface board (10) is positioned in proximity to the dry ink monitor (40) to enable the temperature sensor (20) to measure a temperature of the dry ink concentration. The software algorithm is used to adjust the dry ink concentration based on a slope coefficient calculated by the printer based on outputs from the dry ink monitor (40) and the dry ink monitor interface board (10).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of removable developing units each of which has an image carrier whose width is narrower than a width of a printable area of the printing paper, and a driving unit for driving the plurality of the removable developing units. The plurality of the removable developing units are disposed in different rows parallel to a main scanning direction such that one end of an image producing area of an image carrier of a first developing unit coincides with one end of an image producing area of an image carrier of a second developing unit adjoining to the first developing unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a control unit for supplying printing data to the plurality of the removable developing units in timings shifted form row to row.

Abstract: In predicting a quantity of a printing product necessary for printing a document, the document is stored in its entirety as digital data. Each page of the document is divided into bands of the digital data. From the digital data, a table of limited capacity is created, which describes at least part of a monochromatic component of one of the bands, with the monochromatic component corresponding to the printing product and each cell of the table representing at least a pixel. A number of switched-on pixels in the table is counted, with a switched-on pixel corresponding to a pixel for which a portion of the printing product must be ejected. Before enabling or demanding printing, a necessary quantity of the printing product is derived from a number of switched-on pixels corresponding to each band.

Abstract: An electrode array printer has a housing, an image roller, and a plurality of developer modules. Each of the developer modules has an electrode array printhead, a toner cartridge and a developer roller. The electrode array printhead is installed on a side surface of the image roller for emitting an electron array onto the side surface of the image roller to form an electrostatic image. The developer roller is capable of attracting toner contained in a corresponding toner cartridge. The electrostatic image formed on the side surface of the image roller is capable of attracting toner from a developer roller corresponding to the electrode array printhead when the image roller rotates to a position where the electrostatic image is adjacent to the developer roller. The printer further includes a transfer roller, a fuser and a toner blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, with which it is possible to reduce the overall size of an apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member including a plurality of switching elements that are arranged in a moving direction and a generatrix direction of the image bearing member, and a latent image forming unit for forming a latent image on the image bearing member, the latent image forming unit including a voltage generating unit for generating a voltage in each switching element in accordance with an image signal.

Abstract: A color laser printer 10 compares a pervious printer, which a toner cartridge 40 has been attached to immediately before attachment to the current printer, with the current printer. In the case where the previous printer is different from the current printer, the color laser printer 10 obtains setting information on the previous printer, which is stored in a storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40, and applies the obtained setting information for the current printer. The various settings in the previous printer are thus turned over to the current printer, when the toner cartridge 40 is detached from the previous printer and is attached to the current printer. This arrangement ensures smooth printing operations without requiring any troublesome settings to use the current printer.

Abstract: A thermal fixing device is provided in an image forming device having a main casing. The thermal fixing device includes a thermal fixing unit provided with a heat roller and a pressure roller for heatingly fixing a visible image onto a sheet, and a temperature sensor unit for detecting a temperature of the thermal fixing unit. The temperature sensor unit is mounted to the main casing, and the thermal fixing unit is detachably mounted to the temperature sensor unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, applicable to copying machines, facsimile apparatuses and printers, controls pixel positions with high precision. An image of color material is formed on the surface of an image holding drum. The surface of the image holding drum divides into a number of pixel areas, and each pixel area has an adhesive-force change portion smaller than the pixel area, where adhesive force to color material changes by a predetermined stimulus. An image-signal input unit forms an image by distribution of adhesive force to the color material on the surface of the image holding drum by inputting a stimulus corresponding to an image signal into the image holding drum. A color material supply unit supplies color material particles to the surface of the image holding drum.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming element moving past an image forming station in which a toner is deposited on the surface of the image forming element, the image forming element having at least one electrode extending over a predetermined surface area of the image forming element. The image device also includes an impedance/capacitance measuring circuit measuring the amount of toner deposited on the predetermined surface area on the basis of a resulting change in the impedance/capacitance of the electrode.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus comprising a latent image carrier and a writing means having a plurality of writing electrodes which are aligned in the axial direction of the latent image carrier and arranged in contact with or proximity to the latent image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier, the contact width of the writing means relative to the latent image carrier is set to be smaller than the contact width of any cleaning means, the width of a toner carrying portion of a developing means confronting the latent image carrier, the width of a transferring means, and the width of a charge removing portion of a charge removing means. In addition, the width of the writing means is set to be smaller than the width of the latent image carrier.

Abstract: Electrographic printing apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording medium includes: a magnetic brush having a rotatable magnetic core and a stationary outer cylindrical shell; a developer supply for supplying a magnetic developer powder to the magnetic brush; an array of microchannels on the outer shell for forming a plurality of parallel lines of developer in the channels; means for selectively transferring developer from the lines to a receiver; and a receiver electrode arranged in spaced relation to the array of microchannels to define a recording region through which the receiver can be moved.

Abstract: An electrographic recording apparatus method includes a primary image forming member (PIFM) such as a web or drum that moves in a process direction. An electrographic writehead has a row of spaced electrodes arranged with the row being transverse of the process direction. The electrodes are selectively activated to establish respective electrical fields for recording of a respective row of pixels on the PIFM. The writehead faces a first surface of the PIFM and is positioned in contact with or closely adjacent the first surface to establish the respective electrical fields through the PIFM. A development station includes electrostatically charged toner particles in the form of a nap that selectively deposits the toner particles on a second surface of the PIFM directly opposite the series of spaced electrodes so that the toner particles are electrostatically selectively attracted by the respective electrical fields to develop the respective pixels to form a toner image on the second surface of the PIFM.

Abstract: A method for detecting the status of the toner in a laser printer uses a photosensor. The method includes sampling a signal generated from the photosensor during a specified time, increasing or decreasing the value of a counter in accordance with an integral algorithm, and comparing the resultant counter value with a reference value, and displaying the status of the toner in the printer on a display device, depending on a result of such comparison. This method can accommodate relatively inexpensive photosensors. As the noise-ridden signal generated by such a photosensor is effectively filtered, this method is advantageous in cost and reliability.

Abstract: A method for controlling concentration of a developer in a developing reservoir of a wet printer includes the steps of counting image data output from a system controller to a laser scanning unit to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium, calculating the amount of a consumed toner supplied from the developing reservoir to the photosensitive belt according to a value counted in the counting step of formation of the electrostatic latent image, and supplying toner from a toner supplying unit into the developing reservoir to refill the amount of the consumed toner calculated in the calculation step. The developer also includes a liquid carrier element. Thus, the ratio of the toner to liquid carrier element in the developing reservoir may be maintained within a predetermined range, without having an additional apparatus for measuring the concentration of the developer.

Abstract: An ion flow recording apparatus performs recording making density modulation every pixel. When developing on a fine grain toner is to be performed using a liquid developer for an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit (developing roller) is disposed to face a direction of gravity. Namely, a control valve is provided on a pipe for application of a developer to the developing roller or on a joint portion between the pipe and a developer tank, developing units of different two colors are joined to their developer tank portions, and a rotary shaft is provided on the joint portion to be positioned at a point of symmetry to provide alternate use of the two developing units upon turning them. Therefore, developing for a plurality of colors can be simply performed, and such turning of the developing units enables prevention of the toner from deposition in the liquid developer during developing, thereby making it possible to perform a clear recording.

Abstract: Toner is conserved in printer (1) under operator control by changing the final modulation for each bit in a bit map depending on whether the bit is an edge bit or an internal bit in the character being printed. Since only the final modulation is affected, processing speed and efficiency are not degraded. The operator can select various degrees of internal gray and internal white. Some levels of gray may be satisfactory for some final correspondence.

Abstract: A direct electrostatic printing device for printing an image onto an image receiving substrate includes a toner carrier having a plurality of charged toner particles thereon. A toner delivery unit conveys the charged toner particles to the toner carrier. The toner delivery unit further includes a voltage source and a transfer member connected to the voltage source. The voltage source produces an electrical potential difference between the transfer member and the toner carrier to cause toner particles having a predetermined charge polarity to be attracted from the transfer member to the toner carrier. A printhead structure has an electric field pattern generated on it which is defined by an image to be printed. The printhead structure selectively controls transport of charged toner particles from the toner carrier onto the image receiving substrate.

Abstract: A printer, with printing width (PW) of at least 30 cm printing a toner image on a large substrate, having a width (WS) and a length (LS), including a latent image bearing member having a width (WLI) equal to or larger than the printing width and at least two means for delivering toner are arranged in a staggered configuration around the latent image bearing member and each having a width (WTD) smaller than the width (WLI) of the latent image bearing member.Preferably the latent image bearing member is a photoconductive member.A printer with a shuttle having a swath width of at least 30 cm is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a laser beam printer, automatic optical quantity (APC) control is performed based on an optical quantity detection output to generate a laser beam having a predetermined quantity of light. In each scanning cycle, APC is effected by utilizing a period (unblanking period) in which the laser device is forcibly actuated to generate a horizontal synchronization signal. The unblanking period may be changed according to the print paper size or image formation/non-image-formation periods. Also, light quantity control may be effected through a plurality of scanning cycles before image formation and may be effected by utilizing the unblanking period during the period corresponding to the intervals of print sheets. Techniques also provided to prevent a transfer unit from being contaminated by toner images formed as a byproduct of APC.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing color images using a non-interactive pyroelectric imaging process is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention is used to generate multiple layers of toner on the top surface of a pyroelectric imaging member without physical contact to the imaging member top surface. The ability to generate a composite image with different materials in this manner enables printing machines to use a pyroelectric imaging process to generate color images in the image on image (I-O-I) mode.

Abstract: A system for delivering electrostatic toner to an image receiving member includes a traveling electrostatic wave toner conveyor with a delivery segment adjacent to the image receiving member. The delivery segment includes parallel traveling wave conveyor electrodes and nudging electrodes. The conveyor electrodes are connected to a source of DC-biased multiphase electric power to establish a traveling electrostatic wave in the delivery segment to move toner in a synchronous surfing mode. The nudging electrodes are connected to a source of repulsive DC voltage of the same polarity as the toner to slow and deflect toner toward the image receiving member. The delivery segment further includes overlaid barrier electrodes to maintain uniform delivery of toner to all apertures in an electronically addressable printhead.

Abstract: An electro-photograph device having two counter-rotating rolls (2, 5). Roll (2) transports a toner layer, controlled by a blade (4), to a printing zone (6). A voltage is applied between rolls (2, 5), in order to transfer low-adhesion toner from roll (2) to roll (5). Consequently, only toner particles having a specified minimum adhesion reach the printing zone (6). Thus, better print quality is obtained and the expenditure for drive electronics is reduced. A multitude of electrodes (18) are located on the side of a paper carrier facing away from the roll (2). A switching device (19) selectively applies the electrodes with a bias with is related to the biases applied to the rolls (2,5).

Abstract: The present disclosure presents an apparatus for pattern generation on a dielectric substrate comprising an imaging drum including a dielectric pattern receiving and retaining substrate, a plurality of electrodes underlying the pattern receiving and retaining dielectric substrate, imaging circuitry for application of voltage signals to the plurality of electrodes, an elongate charge source operative to apply a flow of charges to the dielectric substrate, thereby creating a latent image thereon, a developing unit operative to apply toner to the dielectric substrate, thereby producing a toned image according to the latent image, and a transfer unit operative to transfer the toned image to a substrate.

Abstract: A device for use in the technique of direct electrostatic printing (DEP) on an intermediate or final substrate is described, comprising:a receiving member support 5a printhead structure 6 having control electrodes 6a on its back side, in combination with apertures 7 and at least one common shield electrode 6b on the front side ;a toner delivery means 1 presenting a cloud 4 of toner particles in the vicinity of the apertures 7.The printhead structure 6 is made of a plastic isolating substrate, and has at least two rows of apertures. Preferentially each row has one common shield electrode (6b, 6c) at the front side of the printhead structure. The individual control electrodes on the back side are galvanically isolated per aperture from each other and from each shield electrode. The control electrodes are arranged around the apertures. The size or diameter of the apertures of one row is substantially different from the size of the apertures of a second row.

Abstract: A control system for optimizing print quality in an electrophotographic printer uses a fuzzy-logic technique with only solid-area and half-tone density as control inputs, and only scorotron voltage and ROS laser power as outputs. The measured errors in solid-area and half-tone density are assigned to respective fuzzy-logic error subsets. Joint memberships of the solid-area and half-tone density error subsets are then used to derive error subsets are then used to derive correction values for laser power and scorotron voltage.

Abstract: An image forming method which forms a two color toner image or an image made up of two types of toners of the same color includes forming a first image with discharged area development (DAD) and a second image with charged area development (CAD). Resolution and sharpness of the first toner image is improved if the second toner image is formed by imagewise exposing a photoconductive member through a transparent base. Scavenging of the first toner image by the development of the second toner image and other aspects of the method are improved by use of a rotating magnetic core to drive a developer containing hard magnetic carrier in a soft brush through contact with the electrostatic image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for "field effect imaging" of moving substrates, such as webs of paper. Non-conductive, non-magnetic toner having approximately a 5-20 micron mean particle size is electrically charged to a level of at least about 8 micro Coulombs/gram and then a first roller with a conductive surface is brought into operative association with the electrically charged toner so that toner particles adhere to the surface. The toner particles are preferably maintained in an electrostatic fluidized bed, and charged by a corona element in the bed. An array of pin or stylus primary electrodes are selectively energized or de-energized to provide no-write or write condition, respectively using a computer to switch the electrodes into or out of operative connection to a source of electrical potential.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for direct electrostatic printing with reduced banding, which comprising the steps of creating a potential difference between a back electrode and a magnetic brush assembly having a stationary mounted core and a sleeve rotatably mounted around the core, and rotating the sleeve at a rotational speed V.sub.rot which is higher than 100 rotations per minute; applying a developer with toner particles and magnetically attractable carrier particles on the magnetic brush assembly; creating a flow of toner particles directly from the magnetic brush assembly to the back electrode; interposing a printhead structure, having printing apertures and control electrodes around the printing apertures, between the magnetic brush assembly and the back electrode, for image wise controlling the flow of toner particles; passing a substrate at a speed V.sub.

Abstract: An electrophotography recording method is adapted to a recording apparatus having a carriage which includes processing means for forming a latent image on an image bearing member that is rotatable about an axis parallel to a transport direction of a recording sheet by charging the image bearing member and for developing the latent image, where the carriage is successively moved for each 1 line region having a width corresponding to a width of the image bearing member in a main scanning direction which is perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording sheet so that a developed image on the image bearing member is transferred and thermally fixed on the recording sheet.

Abstract: A printhead structure (106) for use in a DEP (Direct Electrostatic Printing) device is provided, made from an insulating material comprising control electrodes in combination with printing apertures, characterized in that:(i) the printhead structure comprises individual control electrodes (106a), each of the individual control electrodes being combined with at least one aperture (107), on one side of the printhead structure,(ii) each of the individual control electrodes (106a) is located on the same side of the insulating material and(iii) the apertures are rectangles with an aspect ratio (AR), defined as the ratio of the width of the apertures in their long axis (WL) over the width of the apertures in a direction perpendicular to this long axis (WD), larger than 1. In a preferred embodiment each single control electrode controls two printing apertures with AR>1 and these two apertures are separated by a portion of the control electrode controlling them.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an aperture electrode member formed of a polyimide insulating sheet of preferably 25 .mu.m thickness, control electrodes of preferably 1 .mu.m thickness formed on the upper surface of the insulating sheet, and five apertures each of which has an aperture diameter of preferably 40 .mu.m formed in each control electrode. The apertures are designed to penetrate through the aperture electrode. By providing a plurality of small apertures, the toner can be highly controlled with low voltage. Therefore, an image can be formed with high image quality and at a high speed.

Abstract: A residual recording material amount detector for a laser printer of the present invention is provided with a continuous dot number detecting device for counting a number of continuous video signals for modulating a laser light source, a toner consumption data storage device for storing a toner consumption per number of continuous dots, and an integrated toner consumption storage device implemented by a nonvolatile memory for storing an integrated value of toner consumptions at the time of forming a series of dots calculated by the continuous dot number detecting device and the toner consumption data storage device. According to the residual recording material amount detector for the laser printer of the present invention, the toner consumption can be detected correctly irrespective of the kind of data to be printed.

Abstract: An aperture electrode unit of an image forming apparatus includes an insulating sheet, control electrodes formed on the insulating sheet and apertures formed in the aperture electrode unit. The insulating sheet is formed of material having a dielectric constant higher than a toner layer. With this construction, a voltage applied across the control electrodes and the toner carry roller is divided in accordance with a capacity rate of these elements. Thus, the voltage is effectively applicable to the toner layer, so that the toner control performance can be improved even at a low-voltage driving time. Therefore, an excellent image recording operation can be performed by a low-voltage driving operation.