Patent ID: 6650853
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image recording apparatus, comprising:image carrying means having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by selectively applying toner to the surface of said image carrying means; image transferring means for transferring the toner image onto a recording sheet or an intermediate image transferring body; and particle supplying means disposed facing the image carrying means, the particle supplying means supplying fine particles to the surface of the image carrying means to form a substantially uniform layer of the fine particles on the surface of the image carrying means, wherein: the powdery fine particles, having a volume resistivity of between 1Ã—108 &OHgr;cm and 1Ã—1014 &OHgr;cm are uniformly adhneringly formed as an intervening layer on the surface of the image carrying means between the image carrying means and the toner, the particle diameter of the fine particles being smaller than that of the toner, and the toner being transferred among the fine particles on the surface of the image carrying means, and the particle supplying means collects the toner left on the surface of the image carrying means after the surface of the image carrying means passes a location facing the image transferring means.