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. 04, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 24, 1998
Daisaku Imaizumi, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Yukihito Nishio, Ikoma-gun, JP;
Hirokazu Fujita, Nara, JP;
Shirou Wakahara, Chiba, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image with uniform density includes a toner carrier for carrying a toner, an opposing electrode arranged opposing to the toner carrier, a high voltage power supply unit for supplying a voltage to generate a potential difference between the toner carrier and the opposing electrode, a control electrode including a plurality of electrodes arranged between the toner carrier and the opposing electrode, and a control power supply unit for implementing a plurality of potential states at respective ones of the electrodes of the control electrode, controlling passage of the toner through a passage portion, and for forming an image on a surface of a recording medium conveyed over the opposing electrode. The control electrode includes an insulating substrate, the aforementioned plurality of electrodes having a passage portion through which the toner passes provided in the insulating substrate, and a plurality of float electrodes having an opening provided such that at least part of the plurality of electrodes are directly or electrically exposed to the toner carrier, for making uniform an electric field formed between the toner carrier and the opposing electrode.