Image recording apparatus

A recording apparatus comprising:

• supply means for supplying toner particles;
• attracting means for attracting the toner particles on a recording medium to receive the toner particles from the supply means;
• generating means for generating toner particles toward the recording medium;
• a control electrode disposed between the generating means and the attracting means, said control electrode comprising an electrode body, a plurality of apertures arranged in a line in the electrode body, electrodes associated with the apertures for controlling flow of toner particles through the apertures toward the recording medium;
• a vibration means connected to said control electrode for mechanically vibrating a portion of the electrode in which the apertures are formed to generate mechanical vibrational waves which travel progressively in a direction along the line of the electrode body;
• and
• said vibration means having means connected to said control electrode for preventing reflection of said progressive waves in the control electrode.

A control electrode for controlling passage of toner particles to a recording medium comprising:

• an electrode body;
• at least one aperture in the electrode body for allowing a flow of toner particles to the recording medium;
• a vibration means for mechanically vibrating the electrode body to generate mechanical vibrational waves which move progressively in a direction along the electrode body;
• said vibration means having means connected to said electrode body for preventing reflection of mechanical progressive vibrational waves in said electrode body;
• wherein said electrode body is elongate and has a first end and a second end, and said vibration means generates said vibrations adjacent the first end of the electrode body, so that said vibrational waves move in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate electrode body toward the second end of said elongate body.