Lexmark International, Inc.

Brandon Alden Kemp

Niko Jay Murrell

Julie Ann Gordon Whitney

Gregory Lawrence Ream

Peter Brown Pickett

Alan Stirling Campbell

Kerry Leland Embry

Alexander Johannes Geyling

Bartley Charles Gould, Ii

Richard Gordon Boyatt, Iii

Nicholas Fenley Gibson

Frank Marion Hughes

Michael Todd Phillips

Brad Edward Mattingly

Kurt Daniel Lambert

Christopher Michael Smith

David William Hullman

Ryan James Nelson

A device and method for determining and applying a transfer voltage in an imaging apparatus is provided. A servo voltage is determined based in part upon a change in an environmental condition. A determination is made whether or not to perform a new transfer servo operation based upon at least one of an amount of time passing since the last transfer servo operation was performed and a comparison of the determined servo voltage and a servo voltage used in a prior transfer servo operation. A transfer servo operation includes charging a photoconductive drum to a charge corresponding to a printing voltage.

Device for determining and adjusting transfer voltage in an imaging apparatus and a method thereof

An imaging apparatus having a toner transfer station, including a donating member for donating toner forming an image; and a transfer roll which serves to form a transfer nip in which toner is transferred from the donating member to a media sheet disposed in the transfer nip between the donating member and the transfer roll, wherein a product of a resistivity of the transfer nip and a dielectric constant thereof is greater than or equal to a product of a resistivity of the media sheet and a dielectric constant thereof.

Transfer NIP for an electrophotographic device, and methods of making and using same

A transfer station for toner transfer in an electrophotographic imaging device includes an endless transfer belt transported about an endless path through the imaging device, a transfer roll adjacent one surface of the transfer belt, and a backup roll adjacent an opposite surface of the transfer belt opposite from the transfer roll such that the transfer roll and backup roll form a transfer nip effecting transfer of toner. For the purpose of improved overtransfer performance, an outer layer of a thin polymer coating is applied to at least one of the transfer belt and the rolls so as to be located within the transfer nip with transfer of toner. The polymer layer has a thickness from about 5 &#x3bc;m to about 200 &#x3bc;m, surface resistivity from about 1E08 to about 1E12 Ohm/cm and breakdown strength greater than 500 V.

Method for enlarging toner transfer window in EP imaging device and transfer station employing the method

A system for tailoring a transfer nip electric field includes a transfer roll, a backup roll forming a transfer nip with the transfer roll, and a pre-nip roll positioned upstream from the transfer and backup rolls and the transfer nip such that a toner image-supporting transfer belt moving past the pre-nip, transfer and backup rolls separately makes contact with, wraps partially around, and rotates each of the rolls as a media sheet is fed into the transfer nip after first passing through a gap defined between the pre-nip and transfer rolls such that by presetting the position, geometry and charge of the pre-nip roll relative to the transfer and backup rolls and the transfer belt an electrical field at the transfer nip can be tailored for enhanced toner transfer from the transfer belt to the media sheet.

System for tailoring a transfer nip electric field for enhanced toner transfer in diverse environments

An image-forming device includes a media path extending through the image-forming device, and at least one image transfer nip positioned along the media path. An electrode is positioned subsequent to the nip with respect to the media path and is coupled to a voltage source. An electric field produced by the electrode and voltage source limits the degree of post-nip toner scattering by applying an electrostatic force to toner particles on media sheets passing along the media path. The image-forming device further includes a processor for monitoring a plurality of ambient conditions, for adjusting the voltage applied to the electrode, and optionally, for repositioning the electrode with respect to the media path.

Electrode-based post nip field conditioning method and apparatus

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Brandon Alden Kemp