| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To stabilize an electric discharge to improve a corona ion generation efficiency and to stabilize an ion flow rate used for forming an electrostatic latent image by a method wherein an air flow is generated in a direction different from an ion travel direction in an area between an ion generation source and a dielectric recording medium. CONSTITUTION:An air flow is generated in a direction different from an ion travel direction in an ion generation area of an ion flow head. The particulate or gasified material of a dielectric substrate 11 is easily susceptible to an air flow in comparison with ions. Therefore, when an air flow is generated in the ion generation area, the air flow causes the material of the substrate 11 to get out of the ion generation area before it adheres to an ion generation electrode 13. On the other hand, ions generated from gas molecules to be used for recording are never affected by the air flow because the travel speed thereof to a recording medium 17 is remarkably higher than the flow rate of the air flow. In this manner, the adhesion of the material of the substrate 11 on the surface of the ion generation electrode 13 is prevented, which results in a stable electric discharge and a stable ion flow rate contributing to the forming of an electrostatic latent image. |
