Patent ID: 6102527
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:a holder for holding at least one color developer;a counter electrode disposed facing the holder;high voltage supplying means for supplying a high voltage to generate a potential difference between the holder and the counter electrode; anda control electrode having an insulating substrate disposed between the holder and the counter electrode, a plurality of gates which are provided on the insulating substrate and serve as passages of the developer, and at least one electrode provided around each of the plurality of gates,the apparatus controlling by the potential difference generated between the holder and the counter electrode whether or not to pass the developer through the gates to form images onto a recording medium conveyed between the control electrode and the counter electrode,the apparatus further comprising:cleaning means for removing the developer deposited on the control electrode, the cleaning means being formed by a member having a characteristic value variable according to ambient conditions;detecting means for detecting the characteristic value;determining means for determining the ambient conditions of an area near the cleaning means based on a detection result of the detecting means; andstate controlling means for controlling a state of at least one among the holder, the counter electrode, the high voltage supplying means and the controlling electrode, based on a determination result by the determining means, so that each of the holder, the counter electrode, the high voltage supplying means and the controlling electrode is brought in a state that desired images can be formed.