Patent ID: 6336712
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:a toner supply that supports and supplies charged toner particles; a toner flow control member having openings therein and control electrodes formed around said openings, said toner flow control member and said toner supply sandwiching the charged toner particles therebetween, and said toner control member controlling a flow of the charged toner particles through said openings with an electric field, said toner flow control member being generally non-planar and in sliding contact with said toner supply, wherein an insulative inorganic substance is provided on at least a surface of said toner flow control member facing said toner supply, said insulative substrate avoiding wear on said toner flow control member created by said sliding contact of said toner supply and said toner flow control member, and a back electrode confronting said toner flow control member and attracting charged toner particles that have passed through said openings, wherein said back electrode and said toner flow control member are positioned to sandwich an image receiving medium therebetween.