Direct printing method with improved control function

Abstract

The present invention relates to a direct electrostatic printing method, in which a stream of computer generated signals, defining an image information, are converted to a pattern of electrostatic fields which selectively permit or restrict the transport of charged toner particles from a particle source toward a back electrode and control the deposition of those charged toner particles in an image configuration onto an image receiving medium. Particularly, the present invention refers to a direct electrostatic printing method performed in consecutive print cycles, each of which includes at least one development period (t.sub.b) and at least one recovering period (t.sub.w) subsequent to each development period (t.sub.b), wherein the pattern of electrostatic fields is produced during at least a part of each development period (t.sub.b) to selectively permit or restrict the transport of charged toner particles from a particle source toward a back electrode, and wherein a supplemental voltage source is applied at the beginning of each development period to enhance the transport of the particle source at the beginning of each development period. Advantageously, an additional electric field is produced during at least a part of each recovering period (t.sub.w) to repel a part of the transported charged toner particles back toward the particle source. Preferably, the supplemental voltage source is supplied to a guard electrode so as to control the amount of toner attracted from the particle source by each aperture. By controlling the amount of toner attracted by each aperture, the toner may be distributed equally among the apertures thereby preventing toner starvation.