Patent ID: 8167410
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner carrier for carrying a toner; recording medium means to which the toner is made to adhere; toner controlling means, disposed between the toner carrier and the recording medium means, and having a plurality of toner passage holes; and cloud electrode means, disposed between the toner carrier and the toner controlling means, wherein an AC bias is applied between the toner carrier and the cloud electrode means to temporally change between an electric field, in which force to move toner from the toner carrier to the cloud electrode means is acted, and an electric field, in which force is acted in an opposite direction thereto, a control electrode for controlling passage of the toner is disposed at least in either an area surrounding a toner passage hole or on an inner wall of this hole on a surface of the toner controlling means on a side of the toner carrier, and when the toner of the toner carrier is able to pass through the toner passage hole of the toner controlling means toward the recording medium means, a loop-shaped line of electric force is formed between the recording medium means side and a common electrode of the toner controlling means, the loop-shaped line by-passing the control electrode.