Image recording apparatus

An image recording apparatus includes a recording electrode having an array of electrode elements which are electrically isolated, a recording material on which an image is recorded, a driving mechanism for moving the recording material while it is opposed to the recording electrode, a magnet for generating a magnetic field across the clearance between the recording electrode and the recording material, a toner supply device for supplying the toner to the clearance, and a device for applying an imagewise voltage signal between the recording electrode and the recording material, wherein the electrode elements each have an end portion converged toward the recording material.

What is claimed is:

1. An image recording apparatus, comprising:

a recording electrode having an array of magnetic electrode elements which are electrically isolated;

a recording material;

means for causing relative movement between said recording electrode and said recording material while they are closely opposed to each other;

means for applying magnetic tone particles to a clearance between the recording electrode and the recording material;

means for generating a magnetic field across the clearance between the recording electrode and the recording material to form a chain of magnetic tone particles between the recording material and a leading edge of each of the magnetic electrode elements; and

means for applying and imagewise voltage signal between said recording electrode and said recording material,

wherein said electrode elements each have an end portion which is so converged toward said recording material that a clearance, measured along the array, between adjacent electrode elements is larger adjacent the end portions than the other portions.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clearance between the recording electrode and the recording material is larger than 2.5 times the spacing between said other portions of said adjacent electrode elements.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner particles are electrically conductive.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode elements are manufactured by an etching method.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tip of each electrode element is pointed.