The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 13, 1997
Katsuo Sakai, Yokohama, JP;
Takahiko Tokumasu, Tokyo, JP;
Osamu Endo, Kawasaki, JP;
Masami Kadonaga, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method of forming a powder image on a recording medium and an apparatus therefor are disclosed. The apparatus includes a toner carrier for carrying powdery toner in a layer or layers thereon, a counter electrode, and a flight control member having independent or continuous extremely small holes and a plurality of control electrodes for controlling the passage of toner through the holes. A voltage is applied to the control electrodes in accordance with an image signal in order to cause the toner to fly from the toner carrier toward the counter electrode via the holes. The toner deposits on the recording medium intervening between the flight control member and the counter electrode, forming an image on the recording medium. The method and apparatus are capable of increasing a recording speed, recording an image even on a paper in a humid environment or on a conductor, simplifying circuitry for driving control electrodes included in the flight control member, promoting the effective use of drivers during image formation, causing only a part of toner for forming an image to fly, and reducing the cost.