Patent ID: 6198492
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: B41J,G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:a supporting medium for supporting an electrified developer;an opposing electrode spaced a predetermined distance apart from the supporting medium and disposed facing the supporting medium;a control electrode disposed between the supporting medium and the opposing electrode and having a plurality of gates which form passage for particles of the electrified developer;a power source that selectively and variably applies a potential to the control electrode so as to selectively control transfer of the developer particles through the gates;wherein a visual image is formed on a recording medium conveyed between the opposing electrode and the control electrode while varying the potential being applied to the control electrode;wherein the opposing electrode is made up of a rotary body having a rotational axis orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium so as to rotate during the non-image forming mode and so as to be in a non-rotating mode during the image forming mode; andwherein a circumferential surface of the rotary body is formed with an opposing portion which faces and remains in fixed relation with respect to the control electrode during the non-rotating mode and a cleaning portion which is one of comes closer to or in contact with the control electrode during rotation.