Image forming apparatus using an aperture electrode with improved toner passage by controlling toner flow to and from the apertures
US5883649A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 1995 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2217/0025
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, a toner carry roller, the upstream surface of an aperture electrode unit and the downstream surface of the aperture electrode unit are processed so that the surface roughness values thereof are equal to about 2 .mu.m, 0.2 .mu.m or less and about 6 .mu.m in terms of Rz, respectively. Accordingly, at the upstream side of the toner supply direction, the friction coefficient between the toner and the upstream surface is smaller than that between the toner and the toner carry roller surface so that subsequently-supplied toner pushes previously-supplied toner to the apertures of the aperture electrode unit. At the downstream side of the toner supply direction, the friction coefficient between the toner and the toner carry member is smaller than that between the toner and the downstream surface, the toner which is carried and supplied by the toner carry roller is fed to the apertures where it is dammed up by the toner adhering to the downstream surface. The toner fed to the apertures is electrostatically attracted to a supporter side by control electric field and then flies onto the supporter, thereby forming picture elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.