Image forming apparatus
US5317347A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0435
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus which comprises a light shutter disposed between a source of light and an image carrier, which is electrostatically charged to a predetermined polarity, and capable of exhibiting a light transmissivity which varies according to a voltage applied to the light shutter. A first voltage of a predetermined direction is applied to the light shutter according to image information during a first period in which a first area of the image carrier passes across the light shutter, to form the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. This electrostatic latent image is subsequently developed into a toner image. In order to substantially recover the light shutter from a light-induced fatigue, i.e., internal polarization of an electro-optical material forming the light shutter, a second voltage of a direction counter to the predetermined direction is applied to the light shutter during a second period in which a second area of the image carrier passes across the light shutter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.