Image forming device, and its manufacturing method and apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a toner carrier moving while carrying a charged toner;
• toner passing control means having a plurality of toner passing holes through which the toner passes and applying an image signal to a control electrode provided to surround the holes, thereby controlling passage of the toner;
• image receiving means to which the passed toner sticks;
• and a back surface electrode provided at the back surface of the image receiving means for drawing the toner, wherein the toner passing control means is in contact with a stay extending perpendicularly to a moving direction of the toner carrier on the downstream side of the contact point with the toner carrier in the moving direction of the toner carrier.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a toner carrier moving while carrying a charged toner;
• toner passing control means having a plurality of toner passing holes through which the toner passes and applying an image signal to a control electrode provided to surround the holes, thereby controlling passage of the toner;
• image receiving means to which the passed toner sticks;
• and a back surface electrode provided at the back surface of the image receiving means for drawing the toner, wherein the toner passing holes are contacted with said toner carrier through spacer means provided in a position on the toner passing control means on an upstream side of the toner passing holes in a moving direction of the toner carrier, the toner passing control means is contacted to a stay extending in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the toner carrier on a downstream side of a contact point with the toner carrier in the moving direction of the toner carrier.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a toner carrier moving while carrying a charged toner;
• toner passing control means having a plurality of toner passing holes through which the toner passes and applying an image signal to a control electrode provided to surround the holes, thereby controlling passage of the toner;
• image receiving means to which the passed toner sticks;
• and a back surface electrode provided at the back surface of the image receiving means for drawing the toner, wherein a gap portion is provided between the toner passing control means and the image receiving means gradually expanding toward a downstream side of the image receiving means from the toner passing holes.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• developer carrying means carrying and transporting a charged developer;
• developer passing control means having a base member provided with a row of a plurality of small holes through which the developer passes in a direction perpendicular to a direction of transporting the developer and controlling passage of the developer through the small holes in response to an externally applied image signal;
• image receiving means to which the developer passed through the small holes sticks;
• and ultrasonic cleaning means for providing ultrasonic vibration to the developer passing control means, thereby cleaning the small holes, wherein a seal blade is attached at a developer storing container wall or at a case wall storing a developer storing container, said seal blade having a tip end in contact with an inner surface in a position on an opposite side of a position where the developer carrying means and the developer passing control means are in direct or indirect contact in the direction of transporting the developer with reference to a small hole row in the developer passing control means.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• developer carrying means for carrying and transporting a charged developer;
• developer passing control means having a base member provided with a row of a plurality of small holes in a direction perpendicular to a direction of transporting the developer through which the developer passes and controlling passage of the developer through the small holes in response to an externally applied image signal;
• image receiving means to which the developer passed through the small holes sticks;
• and a back surface electrode supporting the image receiving means and provided with a prescribed voltage for forming an electric field between the developer carrying means and itself to let the developer fly, wherein a developer supply unit is composed by integrating the developer carrying means and a storing container storing the developer, and at least one end of the developer passing control means being positioned and secured to a box member having the developer supply unit provided in a detachable manner.

A method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• developer carrying means for carrying and transporting a charged developer;
• and developer passing control means having a base member provided with a row of a plurality of small holes through which the developer passes in a direction perpendicular to a direction of transporting the developer and controlling passage of the developer through the small holes in response to an externally applied image signal, a developer carrier being detachably mounted to a box member, the developer passing control means having one end secured to the box member and the other end coupled to an extension member, said method comprising the steps of:
• positioning and securing the box member temporarily provided with the developer passing control means in a prescribed position;
• mounting the developer carrying means or a dummy thereof in a prescribed position of the box member;
• holding one end of the developer passing control means against an urging force of the extension member while recognizing the position of a small hole row, and adjusting the position of the small hole row to be in a prescribed position;
• and securing one end of the developer passing control means to the box member.

A device for manufacturing an image forming apparatus, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• developer carrying means for carrying and transporting a charged developer;
• and developer passing control means having a base member provided with a row of a plurality of holes through which the developer passes in a direction perpendicular to a direction of transporting the developer and controlling passage of the developer through the small holes in response to an externally applied image signal, a developer carrier being detachably mounted to the box member, the developer passing control means having one end secured to the box member and the other end coupled to an extension member, said manufacturing device including:
• means for positioning and securing the box member in a prescribed position;
• means for mounting the developer carrying means or a dummy thereof in a prescribed position of the box member;
• means for recognizing the position of a small hole row;
• means for holding one end of the developer passing control means and performing positional adjustment;
• and means for securing one end of the developer passing control means to the box member.