Eastman-kodak Company

Brian J Joseph

Carl Wilson Roy

Robert Michael Peffer

Thomas K Hilbert

Thomas Joseph Murray

Philip A Stern

Robert M Westcott

Walter C Slater

Thomas W Mort

James Ora Williams

Stephen C Rumsey

Leo G Procter

A method of processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, and an apparatus which can execute the method. The media is scanned to obtain image signals corresponding to the images. Image characteristics are determined from scanned image signals. Image characteristics for scanned images are automatically compared with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more predetermined characteristics. Simulated images are displayed based on the scanned image signals such that any suspect images are apparent to a user. User inputs are obtained for any suspect images, and any suspect image signal is corrected in response to the user input for that image. The image signals are forwarded to an output device.

Photographic processing apparatus and method

A support assembly, in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus having multiple development stations respectively containing different color marking particles for selective development of a plurality of latent image-wise charge patterns on a moving dielectric member so that such apparatus is capable of making multi-color reproductions. The support assembly includes a plurality of members adapted to receive the plurality of development stations respectively. The plurality of members are simultaneously movable to a first position where development stations received by the members are remote from the dielectric member to facilitate removal of such development stations from the apparatus, and to a second position where such development stations are in juxtaposition with the dielectric member. Additionally, the plurality of members, once in said second position where development stations received by the members are located to bring marking particles into development contact with the dielectric member, are independently movable to a third position where such development stations are located to prevent marking particles from coming into contact with the dielectric member.

Support assembly for multiple development stations in an

Magnetic brush development apparatus wherein flow of developer material, distributed in balance across the length of the apparatus, is assured. The apparatus includes a sump containing a supply of developer material. A magnetic brush is spaced from the sump. A feed mechanism, located within the housing between the sump portion and the magnetic brush transports developer material from the sump to the magnetic brush. A ribbon blender, located in the sump, agitates and transports developer material to the feed mechanism. The pitch of the blender blades self adjust as a function of developer imbalance. As material builds up, the blades's pitch angles decrease, reducing the rate of material transport toward areas of maximum build up. Thus, for a blender where the desired flow pattern is end-to-end, the end of the other ribbon near the end of the station toward which material is transported by the outer ribbin is self adjusting. Similarly, the portion of the inner ribbon near the end of the station toward which material is transported by the inner ribbon is self adjusting. The end result is a mixing device that self balances.

Ribbon blender for a development apparatus with self adjusting inner and

An improved transfer apparatus for use in an electrostatographic copier including a dielectric member adapted to carry electrostatically developed marking particle images. The transfer apparatus comprises a cylindrical roller mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and located such that its peripheral surface is in operative relation with the dielectric member of the copier. A receiver member is selectively tacked, at least at its lead marginal edge, on the peripheral surface of the roller by vacuum attraction, such vacuum being effective through ports in the roller. At least one trough is formed in the roller substantially aligned with the vacuum ports. Such trough minimizes contact of the tacked lead edge of the receiver sheet to the peripheral surface of the roller, thereby facilitating release of the sheet from the roller at a desired time.

Roller transfer apparatus

An electrographic development apparatus has a sump for receiving developer material including carrier particles and toner particles. A magnetic brush receives development material from the sump and moves the material into a position relative to an electrostatic image carried on an insulating surface so that toner particles can be transferred to the electrostatic image to develop such image. A ribbon blender in the sump mixes the toner and carrier particles of the developer material, circulates developer material axially within the sump, agitates and shears the developer material, promotes tribocharging, and feeds developer out of the sump along a path leading to the magnetic brush.

Electrographic development apparatus having a ribbon blender

A reproduction apparatus includes a mechanism for transporting a web carrying electrostatically held toner images through an endless path. The web includes a plurality of closely spaced perforations along an edge. A transfer device includes a drum for presenting a receiving surface to the web to receive a plurality of images in registery, for example, color separation images that will make up a multicolor image on the receiving surface. The transfer drum is driven through a gear train by a sprocket which engages the perforations. The sprocket may also drive the web. To assure the most accurate registry despite inaccuracies in the gear train or perforation location, the pitch of the images on the web divided by the circumference of the sprocket is an integer, preferably 1 and preferably, the circumference of the sprocket divided by the circumference of each of the gears in the gear train is an integer.

Reproduction apparatus having a sprocket-driven transfer drum

A transfer roller apparatus for use for example in an electrographic copier including a dielectric member adapted to carry electrostatically developed marking particle images, and the mechanism for applying an electrical bias thereto. The transfer roller apparatus, employing a mechanism for accurately locating a receiver member on the periphery of the roller, dielectric member of the copier. Such apparatus includes a conductive core, mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and located such that its peripheral surface is in operative relation with the dielectric member. An electrical bias is applied to the roller to establish a transfer field between the roller and the dielectric member to effect transfer of marking particle images from the dielectric member to a receiver member accurately located on the peripheral surface of the roller. The bias is applied by connecting an electrical potential source to the roller through the conductive core. A discontinuity in the transfer field is created in the area of the roller surface over which located and tacking of a receiver member are effected.

A transfer roller apparatus for use for example in an electrographic copier including a dielectric member adapted to carry electrostatically developed marking particle images on successive image receiving areas. The transfer roller apparatus, is driven to synchronize transfer roller rotation with dielectric member movement for accurate transfer of marking particle images to a receiver member on such roller peripheral surface. The roller transfer apparatus includes a gear train having a first gear coupled to a rotational motive source and a last gear coaxially coupled to the transfer roller. The transfer roller is articulatable to a first position in operative relation with the dielectric member, a second position in operative relation with a cleaning mechanism for the peripheral surface of the roller, and a third rest position intermdiate the first and second positions. Articulation of the transfer roller is effective about an axis which is coincident with an intermediate gear in the gear train whereby the gears in the gear train remain in mesh during articulation of the roller to maintain the synchronous relationship between the roller and the dielectric member.

Articulating roller transfer apparatus

An electrographic development apparatus has a sump for receiving developer material including carrier particles and toner particles. A ribbon blender in the sump mixes the toner particles and carrier particles, circulates them within the sump and assists in transporting of the materials to a magnetic brush where the toner particles can be transferred to an electrostatic image on a photoconductor. The improved ribbon blender has an elongate helical ribbon positioned within the sump and extends along the sump with adjacent convolutions of the ribbon being spaced from each other. A plurality of buckets are secured to the ribbon between adjacent convolutions of the ribbon. The buckets on one convolution of the ribbon are spaced from the buckets on adjacent convolutions of the ribbon. The buckets can be open radially outwardly relative to the axis of rotation of the ribbon blender, and additional buckets can face radially inwardly to enhance mixing of developer material by picking up the material and transporting it axially and then dropping it near the blender's center line.

Electrophotographic development apparatus with an improved ribbon blender

Apparatus for controlling the alignment, in a lateral (cross-track) direction, of a web moving along a path to minimize lateral deviation between successive discrete areas of such web. The apparatus includes a steering roller for supporting the web for movement along such path. The steering roller is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the span of the web approaching the steering roller. As the web moves along the path, the lateral position of a marginal edge of the web relative to a reference plane is sensed. When such lateral edge position is at either of two spaced predetermined locations relative to such reference plane, signals indicative of the presence of such edge at such locations are produced. The steering roller, in response to such signals, is rotated about the axis perpendicular to the plane of the span of the web approaching the steering roller to steer the web and thereby cause the lateral position of the edge of the web to progress from the predetermined location at which the edge was sensed to the other predetermined location as the web moves along its path.

Web tracking apparatus

Magnetic brush developer apparatus for selectively developing an electrostatic charge pattern on a member by contacting the member with particulate magnetic developer material. The apparatus includes an applicator for transporting developer material in juxtaposition with such member. An electromagnet is operatively associated with the applicator for establishing developer nap bristles on the applicator when energized. The electromagnet is selectively energized to establish nap bristles to develop a selected electrostatic charge pattern with developer material and deenergized to avoid development of any non-selected electrostatic charge pattern.

Magnetic brush developer apparatus

In a camera, a piezoelectric generator is struck by a hammer to produce an electrical pulse for flash firing. A firing spring carrying the hammer engages a shutter blade to drive the blade as the spring is moved to impact the hammer against the crystal. When the firing spring is stopped by the hammer striking the crystal, the shutter blade is catapulted from the firing spring to uncover an exposure aperture in synchronization with the resulting flash illumination.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Brian J Joseph