Xerox Corporation

Andrew James Bonacci

David Mark Kerxhalli

Jonathan Byron Hunter

David R Kretschmann

Thomas Edward Higgins

Mark A Atwood

Colleen R Enzien

Michael James Diehl

Ana Perez Tooker

Carlos A Lopez

Jacqueline Yvonne Tyson

Brendan P Obrien

Michael John Martin

Brian Robert Conrow

Bruce J Parks

Jerry Floyd Adams

Joseph L Filion

Michael A Fayette

Alfred J Claflin, Jr

William R Haag

David A D'Angelantonio

Jaime Soley

Susan A Turner

A method of calibrating a printing system for positioning at least one printed image, the printing system includes a first image bearing surface, the method includes: a) forming a background pattern and at least three fiducials on the first image bearing surface, wherein the background pattern is larger than a first printed image and the at least three fiducials are within an area formed by the first printed image; b) transferring a portion of the first printed image to a second image bearing surface; c) measuring a first residual image on the first image bearing surface, wherein the first residual image is a portion of the background pattern and the at least three fiducials remaining on the first image bearing surface after the step of transferring; and, d) calculating at least one calibration parameter for the printing system based on the measuring of the first residual image.

Automated positioning of printed images

Document processing systems and duplex printing methods are presented in which sideto sideimage on paper (IOP) magnification errors are mitigated by use different speeds for raster output scanner (ROS) for scanning images for different final print sides, and by selective use of electronic registration adjustment by adding or removing sub-pixels from the image data to compensate for ROS speed change overshoot or undershoot.

System and method to improve side 1 to side 2 image on paper magnification difference and IQ performance

A digital printing system employing tandem marking engines for duplex printing utilizing a variable dwell time in the output sheet inverter of the first marking engine to provide correct positioning of the leading edge of the inverted sheet for arrival at the entrance of the second marking to avoid the seam in the photoreceptor.

Controlling sheet registration in a digital printing system

A calibration procedure for the synchronization of photoreceptor belt seams of tandem marking devices at system cycle-up. The procedure allows for images projected upon equivalent image panels relative to the belt seams of the tandem engines to be printed on the same sheet. The successive image panels on each belt are of relatively equal distance from the respective belt seams. Thus there is less frequency of the need to skip pitches in the printing operation to avoid either imaging on a belt seam or having the sheet arrive outside the input timing window for second engine sheet registration.

Controlling sheet synchronization in a digital printing system

Disclosed are embodiments of a modular printing system with one or more modules having one or more bypass paths and comprise a modular printing system with a module (e.g., a stacker or feeder module) having a main compartment and at least one additional compartment. Contained within the main compartment is a main sheet transport path and a functional component (e.g., a sheet stacking device or a sheet feeding device) connected to the main sheet transport path. Contained with the additional compartment is a bypass path. The bypass path allows sheets to be routed through the module in the event of a print media sheet jam in the main sheet transport path. Because the bypass path is contained within a separate compartment, the jam can be cleared from the main compartment without cycling down the printing system, thereby allowing for continued productivity.

Modular printing system having a module with a bypass path

A dynamic positional shifting, in the process direction, of the images on the second print engine of a tandem machine printing system in order to increase the time (and number of prints) between skipped pitches. Although the photoreceptor belts of each print engine may be out-of-phase, the relative positions of their individual seam zones may be derived during cycle-up. A control procedure then optimizes the position and spacing of each image within each belt revolution of the second engine, while still maintaining the minimum inter-document zone (IDZ) length required for paper path feeding and registration, xerographic process controls, and finishing. Removing the constraints of fixed-dimension IDZ's, as well as being able to adjust spacing and length of individual images on the belt, allows for optimization of system productivity by either delaying or eliminating the need for a skipped pitch.

Dynamic image positioning and spacing in a digital printing system

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a latent image recorded on an imaging member wherein said latent image is developed and transferred to a media substrate during successive printing cycles of successive print jobs, including a charging device for producing a voltage potential on the media substrate to transfer the developed latent image to the media substrate, said charging device including a coronode member and shield; a first voltage supply for apply a shield voltage to said shield; a second voltage supply for applying a wire voltage to said coronode member; a voltage monitor for measuring the voltage on the shield, said voltage monitor periodically polling the voltage during a cycle of a print job and generating a voltage measured signal as a function thereof; controller, responsive to a media type of each media substrate and said voltage monitor, for adjusting said wire voltage to said coronode member in respect to said shield voltage to said shield to compensate for process impedance as said media substrate passes under said charging device to obtained desirable image transfer.

Closed loop control function for corona device

A resilient contact blade includes a blade root and a blade tip. The blade is movable from an inoperative position in which the blade root is spaced from a print sheet contacting an imaging member by a first distance. The blade tip is spaced from the print sheet to an operative position in which the blade root is spaced from the print sheet by a second distance that is greater than the first distance. A blade deflector is located in the path of travel of the blade from the inoperative position to the operative position. While the blade is moving from the inoperative position to the operative position the blade engages the deflector. When the blade is in the operative position the blade is deflected by the deflector causing the blade tip to contact the print sheet and press the print sheet against the imaging member.

Variable length transfer assist blade

A contact blade, formed of a plurality of blade segments, is mounted parallel to and spaced from an imaging surface. A plurality of blade lifters, one blade lifter for each of the blade segments, are individually movable from an inoperative position immediately adjacent to the blade segments to an operative position. When in the operative position the engage lifters engage the blade segments and deflect the blade segments. This causes tips of the blade segments to contact a print sheet contacting the imaging surface and press the print sheet against the imaging surface. A lifter activating device moves a current select number of adjacent blade lifters into the operative position.

A transfer assist blade for an electrophotograhic printing machine that provides the necessary stiffness to allow complete transfer of a toner image while avoiding excessive bending stress in the blade. The blade is made up of a semiconductive polyester layer bonded to a non-semiconductive polyester layer. A third and fourth layer of high molecular weight polyethylene are bonded o the second layer. These third and fourth layers do not extend the full length of the blade to provide supplemental stiffness while avoiding excess bending stress.

Composite transfer assist blade

A charging device comprises a housing defining a charging chamber. Two tensioning shafts are mounted on opposite ends of the housing. The charging device comprises a control grid attached to the grid tensioning shafts, thus substantially covering the chamber opening. The control grid is comprised of a conductive material capable of being stretched along its length. As a result, the grid becomes flat when opposing rotating forces are applied to the two tensioning shafts.

Growing community of inventors

Webster, NY, United States of America

Andrew James Bonacci