Patent ID: 7023583
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for supplying a visualizing agent to a latent image to thereby form an image, comprising: a visualizing agent formed of a mixture of a resin material and first magnetic particles, the ratio of the first magnetic particles to the resin material being predetermined, second magnetic particles of a same material as the first magnetic particles being attached to a surface of the mixture; a recording-medium conveyance mechanism which can convey a recording medium which holds thereon the visualizing agent stuck to selected portions of a latent image carrier; a first voltage supply unit which can output a first voltage to charge the latent image carrier with a predetermined potential, and also which can output a second voltage, differing from the first voltage, to charge the latent image carrier with another predetermined potential; a second voltage supply unit which can output a third voltage, differing from the first and second voltages, to attach the visualizing agent to the selected portions of the latent image carrier; and a collecting unit which can collect the attached second magnetic particles when the second magnetic particles are separated from the visualizing agent attached on the latent image carrier by a difference between the third voltage supplied from the second voltage supply unit and the second voltage supplied from the first voltage supply unit.