JP3969502B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to recording agglomerated colorant particles by applying an electrostatic force to a recording liquid in which charged colorant particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by discharging toward a medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, ink (recording liquid) containing toner particles as colorant particles is supplied through a large number of conductive nozzles and slits in which a large number of electrodes are arranged. In addition, a so-called inkjet printer is known in which toner particles are charged by applying a high voltage to the electrodes and ink droplets are ejected onto the opposed recording paper to form an image.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this type of ink jet printer, ink droplets are ejected through nozzles and slits having extremely fine openings, so that the toner is likely to be clogged due to adhesion near the openings. Therefore, there is a problem that stable recording cannot be performed for a long time.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently aggregating without fixing the colorant particles in the recording liquid and capable of stable recording over a long period of time. There is.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage portion that stores a recording liquid in which charged colorant particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid, and a discharge position adjacent to the storage portion. A recording path for supplying a recording liquid, and an electric field from the ejection position to the recording medium facing the ejection position, and aggregating the colorant particles in the recording liquid supplied to the ejection position A recording means for discharging toward the recording medium, a first electric field that passes through the container and the supply path, and a second electric field that is opposite to the first electric field. Control means for vibrating the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the supply path, and the electric field formed by the recording means is synchronized with the first electric field formed by the control means .
[0008]
Also, images forming device of this invention comprises a container portion containing the recording liquid obtained by dispersing charged color material particles in the insulating liquid, supplying the recording liquid in said containing portion to the discharge position adjacent to the housing part a supply path that forms an electric field toward the recording medium opposed to said discharge exit position from the discharge position, toward the aggregate to the recording medium a colorant particle of the recording liquid supplied to the ejection position ejecting And a first electric field that passes through the container and the supply path toward the discharge position during the recording operation by the recording means, and the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the container and the supply path Is moved toward the discharge position, and during the non-recording operation by the recording means, a second electric field that passes through the storage portion and the supply path and faces the discharge position and a third electric field that is opposite to the second electric field are generated. Alternately formed, the accommodating part and the supply path And and control means for vibrating the colorant particles of the recording liquid in.
[0011]
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention also includes a storage container storing a recording liquid in which charged colorant particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid, and a recording in the storage container to a discharge position adjacent to one side of the storage container. A supply path for supplying the liquid; a recording electrode provided around the opening at the discharge position of the supply path; a bias voltage for aggregating the colorant particles in the recording liquid near the discharge position; and A recording voltage having a discharge voltage for discharging the colorant particles aggregated at the discharge position from the discharge position toward a recording medium facing the discharge position is applied to the recording electrode according to an image signal, Recording means for aggregating and discharging the colorant particles in the recording liquid supplied to the discharge position toward the recording medium, and a control electrode disposed in the storage container at a position away from the discharge position And the containing container and In order to form a first control voltage higher than the ejection voltage for forming a first electric field from the control electrode to the recording electrode through the supply path, and a second electric field opposite to the first electric field. and of applying the bias voltage lower than the second control voltage alternately to the control electrode, and a control means for vibrating the colorant particles of the recording liquid in the container and the supply passage, to the control electrode The first control voltage to be applied and the ejection voltage to be applied to the recording electrode are synchronized .
[0013]
Furthermore, images forming device of this invention comprises a container containing a recording liquid obtained by dispersing charged color material particles in the insulating liquid, of the storage container to the discharge position adjacent to one side of the container A supply path for supplying the recording liquid, a recording electrode provided around the opening at the discharge position of the supply path, a bias voltage for aggregating the colorant particles in the recording liquid near the discharge position, and the recording voltage having a discharge voltage for discharging the coloring material particles are agglomerated in the ejection position toward the recording medium opposed to the position out said discharge from said discharge position, is applied to the recording electrodes in accordance with image signals Recording means for aggregating the colorant particles in the recording liquid supplied to the discharge position and discharging the particles toward the recording medium; and a control disposed in the storage container at a position away from the discharge position An electrode, the container, and To form a first control voltage higher than the discharge voltage for forming a first electric field from the control electrode toward the recording electrode through the supply path, and a second electric field in the same direction as the first electric field. A second control voltage and a third control voltage for forming a third electric field opposite to the second electric field are applied to the control electrode, and during the recording operation by the recording means The first control voltage is applied to the control electrode to move the colorant particles in the storage container and the recording liquid in the supply path toward the discharge position. When the recording unit is not performing the recording operation, the second control voltage is applied. And a control means for alternately applying the control voltage and the third control voltage to the control electrode to vibrate the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the storage container and the supply path.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1A is a plan view of a main part of an ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1C schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view.
[0015]
The recording head 1 has a rectangular plate-like substrate 2 made of an insulating material. On the upper surface 2a of the substrate 2, a plurality of circular openings 4a arranged in a line at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction are formed. The substrate 2 is formed with a plurality of ink flow paths 4 penetrating the substrate 2 so as to communicate with the openings 4a.
[0016]
On the upper surface 2a of the substrate 2, a plurality of annular recording electrodes 6 are formed corresponding to the openings 4a. Each recording electrode 6 is provided coaxially with the opening 4 a and the ink flow path 4. Further, from each recording electrode 6, leads 6a for connecting to a driving IC (not shown) are drawn out in the same direction.
[0017]
A cavity 7 is formed between the substrate 2 and the substrate 2, and a rectangular box-shaped ink container 8 (hereinafter referred to as an insulating member) made of an insulating member that stores ink as a recording liquid in the cavity 7. Simply referred to as container 8). On the side surface of the container 8, a plurality of ink supply ports 8 a through which ink stored in an ink supply tank (not shown) flows into the cavity 7 and ink in the cavity 7 toward the ink collection tank (not shown) are placed. A plurality of ink discharge ports 8b are formed to allow the ink to flow out.
[0018]
An insulating guide film 10 for guiding the ink in the cavity 7 toward the opening 4 a through each ink flow path 4 is disposed in the container 8 and in the vicinity of the substrate 2. ing. The guide film 10 extends in the direction crossing each ink flow path 4, that is, along the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the recording head 1, and is disposed in a plane substantially orthogonal to the substrate 2. A plurality of protrusions 12 extending upward through the ink flow paths 4 of the substrate 2 are formed on the upper end 10 a of the guide film 10 facing the substrate 2. Each protrusion 12 has a tapered tip extending upward beyond the recording electrode 6.
[0019]
A control electrode 14 is disposed in the cavity 7 at the bottom of the container 8 and extends substantially parallel to the recording electrodes 6 described above. That is, the plurality of recording electrodes 6 and the control electrode 14 are respectively arranged in a positional relationship that sandwiches the cavity 7 containing ink vertically. A drive circuit (not shown) is connected to the control electrode 14 so that a control voltage to be described later is applied.
[0020]
The recording head 1 configured as described above is positioned so that the upper surface 2a of the substrate 2, that is, the surface on which the plurality of recording electrodes 6 are formed is substantially horizontal. Further, a grounded counter electrode (described later) extends substantially parallel to the upper surface 2a at a position spaced apart from the upper surface 2a of the substrate 2 vertically upward by a predetermined distance. A sheet P (described later) is supplied as a recording medium along a surface where the counter electrode faces the recording head 1.
[0021]
Hereinafter, the flow of ink in the recording head 1 will be described.
The ink accommodated in the cavity 7 is formed by dispersing charged toner particles in an insulating carrier liquid. In the present embodiment, the toner particles are positively charged in the ink.
[0022]
Ink is supplied at a predetermined flow rate from an ink supply tank (not shown) via a supply pipe (not shown), and flows into the cavity 7 via a plurality of ink supply ports 8a. The ink filling the cavity 7 passes through each ink flow path 4 and each opening 4a by the capillary action of the plurality of ink flow paths 4 formed on the substrate 2 and the wetting of the plurality of protrusions 12 of the guide film 10. Through the counter electrode. At this time, a substantially conical ink meniscus having the tip of each protrusion as a vertex is formed around each protrusion 12 of the guide film 10.
[0023]
With the ink meniscus formed along the projections 12 of the guide film 10 in this way, a part of the ink that has flowed into the cavity 7 flows out of the recording head 1 through the plurality of ink discharge ports 8b. Is done. The ink that has flowed out of the recording head 1 is collected into an ink collection tank (not shown) via a discharge pipe (not shown). At this time, the outflow amount of ink is set to a value at which the shape of the ink meniscus formed along each protrusion 12 is stable.
[0024]
FIG. 2 shows a waveform of a recording voltage that is selectively applied to each recording electrode 6 of the recording head 1 in accordance with an image signal. FIG. 3 shows the behavior of ink in the vicinity of the recording electrode 6 when this recording voltage is applied. Hereinafter, the behavior of ink in the vicinity of the recording electrode 6 to which the recording voltage is applied, that is, the ink droplet ejection operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0025]
First, when the printer is turned on, a bias voltage is applied to all the recording electrodes 6 of the recording head 1. This bias voltage is the same positive DC voltage as the toner particles in the ink, and the toner particles fly from the apex of the ink meniscus near the tip of the protrusion 12 corresponding to each recording electrode 6 toward the counter electrode. It is set to a size that does not.
[0026]
When the bias voltage is applied to all the recording electrodes 6 as described above, an electric field E from each recording electrode 6 toward the counter electrode 16 is formed as shown in FIG. The electrostatic force generated by the electric field E causes the toner particles 22 in the ink 20 to rise in the ink 20 along the ink meniscus 25, and the toner particles near the apex of the ink meniscus 25, that is, near the tip of the protrusion 12 of the guide film 10. 22 is agglomerated. That is, since the shape of the ink meniscus 25 is tapered toward the counter electrode 16, the electric field E is concentrated at the apex of the ink meniscus 25, and the toner particles 22 in the ink meniscus 25 are recorded at a recording electrode having a relatively low potential. 6 is raised along the protrusion 12 while being collected at the center of the ink 6, and aggregated at the apex of the ink meniscus 25.
[0027]
As described above, when a bias voltage is applied to each recording electrode 6 and the toner particles 22 are aggregated near the apex of the ink meniscus 25, a pulsed ejection voltage higher than the bias voltage as shown in FIG. Is applied to the selected recording electrode 6. The recording electrodes 6 that do not perform the recording operation are maintained at a bias voltage.
[0028]
As described above, in the vicinity of the recording electrode 6 to which the ejection voltage is applied, the ink meniscus 25 swells in the direction of the counter electrode 16 due to the influence of the electric field E ′ stronger than that at the time of bias, as shown in FIG. When the electrostatic force acting on the toner aggregate 26 aggregated near the apex of the ink meniscus 25 breaks the surface tension of the ink meniscus 25, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. As a result, dots of ink droplets 27 are formed on the paper P supplied between the counter electrode 16.
[0029]
Thereafter, the potential of the recording electrode 6 on which the ink droplet 27 has ejected is returned to the bias value, and the shape of the ink meniscus 25 is returned to the shape shown in FIG. 3A to prepare for the next recording operation.
[0030]
As described above, by applying the recording voltage shown in FIG. 2 to the recording electrode 6 selected according to the image signal, the toner particles 22 in the ink 20 are efficiently aggregated at the apex of the ink meniscus 25. It is possible to form high-density ink dots on the paper P that do not cause bleeding or flow.
[0031]
However, as described above, a so-called tone jet type recording head in which charged toner particles are aggregated at the apex of the ink meniscus by an electric field and the aggregated toner aggregates fly toward a sheet is as shown in FIG. When a recording voltage for causing an ink droplet to fly is applied to the recording electrode 6, the above-described electric fields E and E ′ from the recording electrode 6 to the counter electrode 16 are formed, and at the same time, the recording electrode 6 to the counter electrode 16 An undesired electric field E ″ directed in the reverse direction (downward in the drawing) is formed. When the electric field E ″ directed downward from each recording electrode 6 is formed in this way, the cavity 7 moves toward the ink flow path 4. The movement of the toner particles 22 is hindered, the aggregation efficiency of the toner particles 22 is lowered, and the ejection frequency of the ink droplets 27 is lowered.
[0032]
For this reason, in the present invention, the above problem is solved by applying a control voltage described below to the control electrode 14 disposed at the bottom of the container 8. That is, the toner particles in the ink are pushed up toward the recording electrode 6 by applying a predetermined voltage to the control electrode 14 disposed at a position sandwiching the ink cavity 7 with the recording electrode 6.
[0033]
FIG. 4 shows the waveform of the control voltage applied to the control electrode 14 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, together with the recording voltage waveform described in FIG.
According to this, before the recording operation is started in a state where the bias voltage is applied to all the recording electrodes 6, that is, before the ejection voltage is selectively applied, and after the recording operation is completed, the non-recording operation is performed. Sometimes, a first control voltage lower than the bias voltage is applied to the control electrode 14. On the other hand, during the recording operation, a second control voltage higher than the ejection voltage is applied to the control electrode 14.
[0034]
When the second control voltage is applied to the control electrode 14 during the recording operation, the potential of the control electrode 14 becomes higher than the potential of each recording electrode 6, and an electric field from the control electrode 14 toward the recording electrode 6 is formed in the cavity 7. Is done. As a result, during the recording operation, the positively charged toner particles 22 are migrated in the ink 20 toward the tips of the protrusions 12 of the guide film 10 protruding from the recording electrodes 6 to the ink discharge position. The toner particles 22 are efficiently aggregated.
[0035]
Further, when the first control voltage is applied to the control electrode 14 during the non-recording operation, the potential of the control electrode 14 becomes lower than the potential of each recording electrode 6, and the recording electrode 6 moves from the recording electrode 6 to the control electrode 14 in the cavity 7. An electric field is formed. When the electric field directed to the control electrode 14 is formed in this way, the positively charged toner particles 22 migrate toward the control electrode 14. As a result, the toner particles accumulated in the ink flow path 4 and the guide film 10 during the recording operation can be redispersed in the cavity 7, and the clogging of the ink flow path 4 and the disturbance of the recording characteristics can be prevented.
[0036]
FIG. 5 shows dots corresponding to the number of recording dots when ink droplets are continuously ejected when the control voltage is applied to the control electrode 14 and when no control voltage is applied as in the present embodiment. The change in diameter is shown.
[0037]
According to this, when the control voltage is not applied, the dot diameter is suddenly reduced from about 1000 dots recorded, whereas when the control voltage is applied, the dots are recorded even when 5000 dots are recorded. It can be seen that the diameter has hardly changed and stable recording has been achieved over a long period of time. That is, by applying a control voltage to the control electrode 14 as in the present embodiment, the toner particles can be efficiently aggregated and stable recording can be performed over a long period of time.
[0038]
FIG. 6 shows the waveform of the control voltage according to the second embodiment together with the waveform of the recording voltage.
According to this, a pulsed control voltage is applied to the control electrode 14 during a recording operation in which a recording voltage is applied to the recording electrode 6 or during a non-recording operation in which no recording voltage is applied. . This control voltage is formed by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage.
[0039]
The effective value of the control voltage is set to be higher than the effective value of the recording voltage. On average, an electric field from the control electrode 14 toward the recording electrode 6 is formed in the cavity 7. As a result, the positively charged toner particles 22 migrate in the ink 20 in the direction toward the tip of each protrusion 12 of the guide film 10 and are efficiently aggregated to the ink ejection position. In the present embodiment, the rise of the ejection voltage applied to the recording electrode 6 and the rise of each pulse of the control voltage are synchronized in order to increase the aggregation efficiency of the toner particles.
[0040]
By the way, when a pulsed control voltage is applied in this way, an electric field from the control electrode 14 toward the recording electrode 6 is formed even during the non-recording operation, and the toner particles 22 are fixed to the ink flow path 4 and the guide film 10. However, in the present embodiment, since the pulse-like control voltage is applied, the toner particles 22 in the ink 20 are always excited and forced to constantly move. Sticking is prevented.
[0041]
FIG. 7 shows changes in the dot diameter with respect to the number of recording dots when ink droplets are continuously ejected with and without applying the control voltage of the second embodiment.
[0042]
According to this, when the control voltage is not applied, the dot diameter is suddenly reduced from about 1000 dots recorded, whereas when the control voltage is applied, the dots are recorded even when 2500 dots are recorded. It can be seen that the diameter has hardly changed and stable recording has been achieved over a long period of time. That is, in this embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment described above, the toner particles can be efficiently aggregated and stable recording can be performed over a long period of time.
[0043]
FIG. 8 shows the waveform of the control voltage according to the third embodiment together with the waveform of the recording voltage.
According to this, during the recording operation, a DC voltage higher than the ejection voltage applied to the recording electrode 6 is applied to the control electrode 14 as in the first embodiment described above, and during the non-recording operation, Similar to the second embodiment described above, a pulsed AC voltage is applied to the control electrode 14.
[0044]
When a DC voltage is applied during the recording operation, the potential of the control electrode 14 becomes higher than the potential of each recording electrode 6, and an electric field from the control electrode 14 toward the recording electrode 6 is formed in the cavity 7. As a result, the positively charged toner particles 22 migrate in the ink 20 toward the tip end of each protrusion 12 of the guide film 10 protruding from each recording electrode 6 and are efficiently aggregated to the ink discharge position.
[0045]
When a pulsed AC voltage is applied during the non-recording operation, the toner particles 22 in the ink 20 are always excited and forced to constantly move. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the toner particles 22 from adhering to the ink flow path 4 and the guide film 10.
[0046]
FIG. 9 shows a change in dot diameter with respect to the number of recording dots when ink droplets are continuously ejected with and without applying the control voltage of the third embodiment.
[0047]
According to this, when the control voltage is not applied, the dot diameter is suddenly reduced from about 1000 dots recorded, whereas when the control voltage is applied, the dots are recorded even when 2500 dots are recorded. It can be seen that the diameter has hardly changed and stable recording has been achieved over a long period of time. That is, in the present embodiment, similarly to the first and second embodiments described above, the toner particles can be efficiently aggregated and stable recording can be performed over a long period of time.
[0048]
As described above, in a so-called tone jet type recording head in which charged toner particles are aggregated by an electric field and fly toward a recording medium, a control electrode for pushing up the toner particles toward the recording electrode is provided in the ink cavity. It is effective to provide it at the bottom, which can improve the aggregation efficiency of the toner particles. In addition, toner adhesion can be prevented by forming a reverse electric field from the recording electrode to the control electrode during non-recording operation, or applying a pulsed control voltage to the control electrode to excite the toner particles.
In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the scope of this invention.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, the colorant particles can be efficiently aggregated and stable recording can be performed over a long period of time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view, a transverse sectional view, and a longitudinal sectional view showing a recording head of an ink jet printer as an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a recording voltage applied to a recording electrode of the recording head in FIG.
3 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining the behavior of ink when the recording voltage of FIG. 2 is applied. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a waveform of a control voltage according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing a comparison of recording characteristics when a first control voltage is applied and when it is not applied.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a waveform of a control voltage according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing a comparison of recording characteristics when a second control voltage is applied and when it is not applied.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a waveform of a control voltage according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a graph showing a comparison of recording characteristics when a third control voltage is applied and when it is not applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... recording head,
2 ... substrate,
2a ... top surface,
4 ... ink flow path,
4a ... opening,
6. Recording electrode,
6a ... Reed,
7 ... cavity,
8 ... Ink container,
8a: Ink supply port,
8b ... Ink discharge port,
10 ... Guide film,
12 ... Protrusions,
14 ... control electrode,
16 ... counter electrode,
20 ... ink,
21 ... Carrier liquid,
22 ... toner particles,
25 ... ink meniscus,
26. Toner aggregate,
27 ... ink drops,
E, E ', E "... electric field,
P: Paper.

Claims (5)

A storage section for storing a recording liquid in which charged colorant particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid;
A supply path for supplying the recording liquid in the storage section to a discharge position adjacent to the storage section;
A recording unit that forms an electric field from the discharge position toward the recording medium facing the discharge position, and agglomerates the colorant particles in the recording liquid supplied to the discharge position to be discharged toward the recording medium;
A first electric field that passes through the container and the supply path toward the discharge position and a second electric field that is opposite to the first electric field are alternately formed, and the color in the recording liquid in the container and the supply path is formed. Control means for vibrating the agent particles,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the electric field formed by the recording means and the first electric field formed by the control means are synchronized . A storage section for storing a recording liquid in which charged colorant particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid;
A supply path for supplying the recording liquid in the storage section to a discharge position adjacent to the storage section;
A recording unit that forms an electric field from the discharge position toward the recording medium facing the discharge position, and agglomerates the colorant particles in the recording liquid supplied to the discharge position to be discharged toward the recording medium;
During the recording operation by the recording means, a first electric field is formed through the storage portion and the supply path toward the discharge position, and the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the storage portion and the supply path are placed at the discharge position. A second electric field directed to the ejection position through the accommodating portion and the supply path and a third electric field opposite to the second electric field are alternately formed during a non-recording operation by the recording unit, Control means for vibrating the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the storage part and the supply path;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A container containing a recording liquid in which charged colorant particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid;
A supply path for supplying the recording liquid in the storage container to a discharge position adjacent to one side of the storage container;
A recording electrode provided around an opening at the discharge position of the supply path;
A bias voltage for aggregating the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the vicinity of the ejection position, and the colorant particles aggregated at the ejection position are ejected from the ejection position toward a recording medium facing the ejection position. Recording means for applying a recording voltage having a discharge voltage for the recording electrode to the recording electrode in accordance with an image signal, and aggregating the colorant particles in the recording liquid supplied to the discharge position and discharging the particles toward a recording medium When,
A control electrode disposed in the storage container at a position away from the discharge position;
A first control voltage higher than the ejection voltage for forming a first electric field from the control electrode toward the recording electrode through the storage container and the supply path, and a second electric field opposite to the first electric field A control means for alternately applying a second control voltage lower than the bias voltage for forming the control electrode to the control electrode to vibrate the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the storage container and the supply path, and
An image forming apparatus, wherein a first control voltage applied to the control electrode and an ejection voltage applied to the recording electrode are synchronized . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first control voltage and the second control voltage applied to the control electrode are applied regardless of a recording operation by the recording unit. A container containing a recording liquid in which charged colorant particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid;
A supply path for supplying the recording liquid in the storage container to a discharge position adjacent to one side of the storage container;
A recording electrode provided around an opening at the discharge position of the supply path;
A bias voltage for aggregating the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the vicinity of the ejection position, and the colorant particles aggregated at the ejection position are ejected from the ejection position toward a recording medium facing the ejection position. Recording means for applying a recording voltage having a discharge voltage for the recording electrode to the recording electrode in accordance with an image signal, and aggregating the colorant particles in the recording liquid supplied to the discharge position and discharging the particles toward a recording medium When,
A control electrode disposed in the storage container at a position away from the discharge position;
A first control voltage higher than the discharge voltage for forming a first electric field from the control electrode toward the recording electrode through the storage container and the supply path, and a second electric field in the same direction as the first electric field A second control voltage for forming a second control voltage and a third control voltage for forming a third electric field opposite to the second electric field are applied to the control electrode, the recording means During the recording operation, the first control voltage is applied to the control electrode to move the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the container and the supply path toward the discharge position, and the non-recording operation by the recording unit Control means for alternately applying the second control voltage and the third control voltage to the control electrode to vibrate the colorant particles in the recording liquid in the container and the supply path;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images