Patent ID: 6166752
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:a latent image carrying member for carrying an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;an ink holding member disposed in opposing relation to the latent image carrying member and holding a thin layer of conductive ink on a surface thereof, the surface of the ink holding member being formed of a conductive material and having a plurality of projecting portions; anda voltage applying unit for applying, to the projecting portions, a voltage of polarity different from that of a potential of the electrostatic latent image and thereby causing the ink to jump from the projecting portions located in opposing relation to the electrostatic latent image toward the electrostatic latent image,wherein the following weak inequality is satisfied:(h1+h2-h3)/(h1+h2).gtoreq.0.1,where h1 represents height of each of the projecting portions,h2 represents thickness of the thin layer of ink on each of the projecting portions, andh3 represents thickness of the thin layer of ink between the projecting portions.