Toner jumping phenomenon in an electric field

This article gives a short review on fundamentals of electrophotographic printing using dry toners with conductive or insulative characteristics. The toner jumping phenomenon, TonerJet (R) technology, toner cloud confinement, and toner cloud beam technology in electric fields are emphasized. Theory and comparison of advantages among toner developments and transport are briefly discussed. The purpose of this article is to advance the development of a novel printing technology, "toner cloud beam,'' which has the possibility of using a highly simplified toner imaging mechanism. To clarify the characteristics of conductive toner, the difference between insulative and conductive toner were compared. Unique characteristics of conductive toner are focused on: the up-and-down motion between voltage applied electrodes and cloud formation by confinement at the dented part of the electrode. The present state of the novel printing mechanism is summarized.