Xerox Corporation

David E Rollins

Joseph A Swift

Stanley John Wallace

Guru B Raj

Thomas E Orlowski

John E Courtney

Wilbur M Peck

Michael E Beard

James M Pacer

Roger W Budnik

Ralph A Shoemaker

Michael G Swales

Robert Steven Pozniakas

David P Vanbortel

Douglas W Sass

Porfirio J Perez

Steven E Kolb

Alvin J Owens

Ameet S Bhattacharya

Bruce Earl Thayer

Robert Arnold Gross

James Lawton Giacobbi

William G Osbourne

Douglas J Baxendell

Daniel H Burnett

Ahmed-Mohsen T Shehata

John A Wargo

David J Lemmon

Richard M Baran

Carmen J Sofia

Fredrick M Hausner

An electrophotographic printing or copying machine includes a functional module which can be readily removed and replaced by service personnel. The module includes a monitor in the form of an electronically-readable memory, which includes information about how the particular module is to be operated. A distribution board electronically accesses the memories within the monitors and reads therefrom information, such as how much voltage to supply to different components within each module. The distribution board can also update the number of prints made with each module, and maintain this count within the monitors.

System for managing replaceable modules in a digital printing apparatus

A method and apparatus to track toner waste and the level of waste toner in a toner waste receptacle. A sensor measures the amount of toner developed on a photoreceptive member. At regular intervals a signal representing this developed toner amount is sent to a machine controller. The machine controller coverts the developed toner amount into an amount of residual waste based on the machine transfer efficiency. This residual waste amount is tracked and a signal is generated for a user as the toner waste receptacle approaches capacity. At full capacity an end of life signal is generated and for preservation of machine components the machine shuts down until the waste container is replaced.

Method and apparatus for waste toner determination

A retaining device for a photoreceptive member in a xerographic CRU. The belt in a CRU is retained by the device and held in a shape so that it will slide easily over a drive module without catching on other machine components. The device is made up of a plurality of fingers that hold the belt in position during shipment and installation. Once the CRU is installed and an interlock handle turned, the belt is released from the fingers and is in an operative, supported position on the drive module. To remove the CRU, the interlock mechanism is reversed and the belt is again captured by the fingers and held in a shape to allow easy removal over the drive module.

Photoreceptor shipping installation clip for xerographic customer

A xerographic CRU (Customer Relpaceable Unit) for an electrophotographic printing machine. The xerographic CRU has retaining features and cooperates with a drive module with certain retractable features that allow the insertion and removal of the CRU without causing damage to the photoreceptor and other critical subsystems. The unit further has many locating members for other subsystems so that critical tolerances are maintained. An interface with a single handle assembly retracts/unlocks and extends/locks the drive module and the associated CRU subsystems into an operative position. The CRU also has electrical and drive connections for the cleaning system, the charging system and transfer/detack.

Modular xerographic customer replaceable unit (CRU)

A mechanism for selectively positioning a plurality of components in a printing machine is provided. The mechanism includes a lever for controlling the mechanism, a first linkage operably connecting the lever to a first component, and a second linkage operably connecting the lever to a second component, so as to simultaneously reposition the first component and the second component by actuating the lever.

Multifunction customer replaceable unit latch

An apparatus and method for cleaning particles from a moving imaging surface. Backers are retracted from the photoreceptor to release cleaning contact between the brushes and the moving imaging surface during development of image-on-image in the multi-pass cycle. After transfer of the image, the backers move into contact with one side of the photoreceptor causing the moving imaging surface, on the other side of the photoreceptor, to contact the cleaner brushes. The brushes clean the moving imaging surface of the photoreceptor. The brushes are released from contact with the moving imaging surface when the backers are retracted, allowing the image on image multi-pass process to begin again. The brushes engage and disengage the photoreceptor in the interdocument zone (i.e. non-imaging region) of the moving surface.

Retraction of cleaner backers to enable disengagement of the cleaner

An apparatus and method using eccentrics, driven by a two-level gear, to sequentially retract and engage the brushes in the non-imaging region of the photoreceptor surface. The first brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is brought into contact with the surface, in the non-imaging region, at the beginning of the cleaning cycle, using eccentrics. As the surface moves, the first brush in contact with the surface cleans residual toner from the imaging area, while the second brush is sequentially brought into contact with the surface in the non-imaging region. After the cleaning cycle is complete, the first brush coupled to an eccentric gear is retracted from the surface, in the non-imaging region. As the surface continues to move, the second brush also coupled to an eccentric gear, now in the non-imaging region, is retracted from the surface. Then, development of the image on image begins. The brushes are sequentially retracted using a two-level gear, one gear being 90 degrees out of phase with the other, to drive the eccentric gears of the brushes via idler gears. Each gear of the two level gear has a circumference which includes two 90 degree segments with gear teeth and two 90 degree segments with blank zones. The location of the 90 degree segments in conjunction with the eccentric brush gear determine retraction and engagement of the brushes and the sequential timing of these actions.

Sequenced cleaner retraction method and apparatus

An electronic component for making electrical contact with another component comprising a nonmetallic pultruded composite member having a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix said plurality of fibers being oriented in said matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said member and being continuous from one end of said member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of said member at least one end of said member having a fibrillated brush-like structure of said plurality of fibers providing a densely distributed filament contact wherein the terminating ends of the fibers in the brush-like structure defines an electrically contacting surface. In a preferred embodiment the brush-like member is a laser fibrillated structure.

Fibrillated pultruded electronic component for grounding a photoconductor

A method of making a connector by applying a focused beam from a laser to a polymer matrix containing plurality of conductive fibers in parallel. The laser is applied at one end of the matrix to volatilize the matrix so as to expose the plurality of conductive fibers to provide a laser fibrillated brush-like structure to define an electrically contacting surface.

Method of making a fibrillated pultruded electronic component using a

Static eliminator device includes a nonmetallic pultruded composite member having a plurality of conductive carbon fibers provided within a polymer matrix of thermosetting resin, wherein the plurality of carbon fibers are oriented within the polymer matrix in a longitudinal direction of the pultruded composite member and extend continuously therethrough. The pultruded composite member has at least one laser fibrillated end including a brush-like structure of densely distributed filament contacts formed from an exposed length of the carbon fibers for contact with the surface. The brush-like structure has either a straight edge configuration or a shaped configuration. The static eliminator device may include a base member for holding the pultruded composite member, wherein the base member electrically communicates with the plurality of conductive fibers to permit the electrical charge to pass therefrom. The static eliminator device utilizes a plurality of the pultruded composite members attached to the base member, each having a rod shape, or a single pultruded composite member having a planar shape. Alternatively, the static eliminator device may essentially be of single piece construction, wherein the pultruded composite member is planar in shape.

Fibrillated pultruded electronic components and static eliminator devices

An electrophotographic printing machine in which a moving photoconductive belt is supported in the region of the processing stations thereof. The photoconductive belt is guided in an endless path of movement. The region of the photoconductive belt opposed from at least one of the processing stations is maintained substantially planar with photoconductive belt flutter being substantially dampened.

Photoconductive belt support

An electronic component for making electrical contact with another component comprising a nonmetallic pultruded composite member having a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix the plurality of fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of the member and being continuous from one end of the member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the member at least one end of the member having a fibrillated brush-like structure of said plurality of fibers providing a densely distributed filament contact wherein the terminating ends of the fibers in the brush-like structure defines an electrically contacting surface. In a preferred embodiment the brush-like member is a laser fibrillated structure.

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Lyons, NY, United States of America

David E Rollins