Xerox Corporation

Charles Anthony Radulski

Eric Michael Gross

Christopher Auguste Dirubio

Henry R Till

Gerald M Fletcher

Michael D Thompson

David Bradley Montfort

David G Anderson

Kenneth W Pietrowski

Fredrick A Warner

Aaron Michael Burry

Joseph A Swift

Palghat Srinivas Ramesh

Michael F Zona

Robert Michael Lofthus

Jack Thomas Lestrange

Alexander J Fioravanti

Cheryl A Hanzlik

David M Friel

Cynthia H Barg

Robert M Loftus

Systems and methods apply active feedback via a repetitive controller to compensate for periodic disturbances applied by recording media to a movable image carrier having a controlled velocity. The compensation parameters of the repetitive controller, once the error signal of the feedback converges to zero, can be stored with one or more characteristics of the print job or the recording media used for the print job. When other print jobs are received having the same one or more characteristics, the stored, converged compensation parameters can be retrieved, reducing the time to convergence of the systems and methods.

Systems and methods for reducing velocity errors in a movable image carrier of an image forming device

A light-transmissive transfer belt used in the system for determining toner mass amount and methods for making the belt. A system and method, using the transparent transfer belt, is capable of determining an amount of toner mass present on a toner application surface, and the real-time adjustment of parameters controlling xerographic transfer performance in the system. The system includes transmission-based sensors alone and in combination with reflective-based sensors.

System and method for determining an amount of toner mass on a photoreceptor

A method of printing includes processing a print job stream to identify one or more images to be printed on a first substrate. The first substrate has a substrate attribute, such as paper weight or surface roughness, which is different from that of a second substrate. A marking engine is selected to print the identified images on the selected first substrate. An operating parameter of the marking engine is modified from a set point for the second substrate to a modified set point for the first substrate, to accommodate the substrate attribute of the selected first substrate. The identified images are sent to the selected marking engine to be printed.

Automated modification of a marking engine in a printing system

The dielectric thickness of a photoreceptor is determined in a variety of ways, including using a relationship between threshold voltage and dielectric thickness, using a relationship between dielectric thickness and the difference between biased transfer roller (BTR) voltage and photoreceptor surface potential, using a relationship between dielectric thickness and biased charging roller (BCR) impedance, using a relationship between dielectric thickness and the slope of the DC current vs. voltage curve for the BTR or the BCR, and using a relationship between dielectric thickness and the BTR voltage at zero current. The threshold voltage can be found by using the slope of the BCR DC current vs. voltage curve, measuring photoreceptor surface potential for a plurality of target values below the charging knee to obtain the intercept value, or finding the actual value of the charging knee. A method of using the BCR as an electrodynamic voltmeter is also disclosed.

Method of using biased charging/transfer roller as in-situ voltmeter and photoreceptor thickness detector and method of adjusting xerographic process with results

A method and apparatus for sensor calibration to obtain transfer efficiency measurements in a reprographic device from a pair of optical toner mass sensors, one located before and one located after transfer. Individual sensors differ (mounting variation, electrical component variation, etc.) in their response to a common sample. Because of low mass levels in transfer efficiency measurements it is essential to reduce sensor to sensor differences. Disclosed is a method of calibrating the sensors to each other by utilizing each sensor's response to at least two identical mass levels. Actual mass levels do not need to be known (except for the zero mass which is easy to ensure) and the individual sensor sensitivities do not need to be known since the ratio of responses yields the necessary sensor characterization. This method does not require unique calibrations among sensors and results in a more accurate and precise measurement of transfer efficiency.

Multi-sensor calibration technique

According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods of optimizing contact forces between transfer and photoreceptor belts in image forming devices. The method acquires initial and operational set point data for the photoreceptor and transfer belt at different stages of engagement. Yaw motion is applied to reduce any misalignment between the belts based on the acquired data. A processor is used to determine misalignment between the photoreceptor belt and the transfer belt, and an actuator can be used to apply yaw motion. The yaw motion can return the transfer belt and the photoreceptor belt to their initial set position, or return a steering subsystem actuator to its setting prior to engagement of the belts. Set point data can be from the respective transfer steering subsystem for the photoreceptor and the transfer belts.

Transfer belt module steering to optimize contact forces at transfer belt and photoreceptor belt interface

A color printing machine with a hybrid development architecture is provided including a photoreceptor, a first and second set of development housings, a biased transfer belt, and a fuser. The first set of development housings are arranged in an image-on-image configuration in proximity to the photoreceptor. The biased transfer belt is in proximity to the photoreceptor at a transfer station. The second set of development housings are arranged in a tandem configuration in proximity to the biased transfer belt. The fuser is in proximity to the biased transfer belt.

Color gamut and enhanced transfer using hybrid architecture design

A printing system includes a plurality of marking engines. The marking engines selectively receive at least one replacement module, such as a toner or ink cartridge. The replacement module includes a consumable such as toner or ink, which is consumed during rendering of images by the respective marking engine. A scheduling system assigns images to the marking engines for rendering on a print medium, such as paper. The scheduling system has a mode of operation in which images are selectively assigned to the marking engines to balance usage of the consumable by the marking engines.

Printing system with balanced consumable usage

Electrodes are embedded in a biased charge roller of a xerographic device. The electrodes, which may run the length of the roller, are deposited on an insulating substrate. A semi-conductive conformable layer of a flexible elastomer covers the electrodes. The semi-conductive conformable layer limits current flow between electrodes and relaxes charge deposited on the roller surface. Stationary pre-nip and post-nip contacts apply the bias to the imbedded electrodes. The electrodes in the post nip region are biased to V. The electrodes positioned in the pre-nip regions are either grounded or biased to V&#x3c;V. The electroded biased charge roller may generate air breakdown in the post nip region, resulting in highly uniform charging.

Biased charge roller with embedded electrodes with post-nip breakdown to enable improved charge uniformity

A system and method for controlling a xerographic printer includes a subsystem for carrying out a function of the xerographic printer and affecting an electric field of a component. The system and method further include a bias transfer roll voltage operated in a constant current mode, and a voltage evaluator coupled to the biased transfer roll for measuring a change in a level of voltage of the bias transfer roll as the component affected by the subsystem passes through a nip region near the bias transfer roll for determining operability of the subsystem.

Method and apparatus using a biased transfer roll as a dynamic electrostatic voltmeter for system diagnostics and closed loop process controls

Electrodes are embedded in a biased transfer roller for the transfer of a xerographic image. The electrodes, which run the length of the roller, are deposited on an insulating core surrounding the shaft. A conformable semi-conductive layer of a flexible elastomer covers the embedded electrodes. The semi-conductive layer limits current flow between embedded electrodes, relaxes charge deposited on the roller surface, and maximizes the electric field that attracts the toner from the photoconductor to the image receiving surface (substrate or intermediate). The electroded biased transfer roller may tailor the electric fields within the nip, pre-nip, and post-nip regions between the photoreceptor and the image receiving surface of the xerographic device.

Method to control pre- and post-nip fields for transfer

A color electrophotographic printer that prepares a composite toner image for transfer by exposing an image area containing the composite toner image to an erase lamp and then running the composite toner image by an AC scorotron.

Color printing machine having AC pretransfer toner treatment

An imaging process which comprises the formation of an image on an imaging member, development of the image with a toner comprised of resin, pigment, and surface additives, and wherein the toner surface area coverage is from about 30 to about 80 percent; transferring the image developed to a substrate; and optionally fixing the image thereto.

Toner and developer compositions with high surface additive loadings

An apparatus for enhancing toner release from an image bearing member in an electrostatographic printing machine, including a resonator suitable for generating vibratory energy arranged in line contact with the back side of the image bearing member for uniformly applying vibratory energy to the image bearing member. The resonator includes a piezoelectric transducer and a horn-type waveguide assembly, wherein an adhesive epoxy augmented with a substantial concentration of electrically conductive, free flowing particulate bead elements is used to bond the horn and piezoelectric transducer element together, without the requirement of a backing plate or bolts. The conductive beads resolve bond layer thickness anomalies while eliminating adhesive flow restrictions such that substantially uniform tip velocity and frequency output can be achieved.

Resonator assembly including an adhesive layer having free flowing

A resonating assembly, generally for use in electrostatographic applications for enhancing transfer of toner from an image bearing member, with the resonating assembly positioned along a longitudinal axis generally transverse to the process direction of movement of the image bearing member, for applying uniform vibratory energy thereto. The resonating assembly includes a plurality of discrete individual resonator elements, each including a vibratory energy producing segment, such as a piezoelectric transducer, for generating vibratory energy and a waveguide segment coupled to the vibratory energy producing segment for directing the vibratory energy to the image bearing member. An alignment rod is provided for extending the length of the entire resonating assembly, along a longitudinal axis thereof, wherein the alignment rod facilitates critical alignment specifications for the resonating assembly. The alignment rod is cooperatively engaged with each discrete resonator element in a manner that permits each resonator element to function independent of each other.

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Macedon, NY, United States of America

Charles Anthony Radulski