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:
Dec. 26, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2000
Tomoo Izumi, Toyonaka, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrying member that carries an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and an ink holding member that is disposed in opposing relation to the latent image carrying member and holds a thin layer of conductive ink on a surface thereof. The surface of the ink holding member is formed of a conductive material and has a plurality of projecting portions. The image forming apparatus further comprising a voltage applying unit that applies, to the projecting portions, a voltage of polarity different from that of a potential of the electrostatic latent image and thereby causes the ink to jump from the projecting portions located in opposing relation to the electrostatic latent image toward the electrostatic latent image. In the image forming apparatus, the following weak inequality is satisfied: