Eastman-kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

David McLaughlin Rakov

Thomas Nathaniel Tombs

Joseph Anthony Manico

Frank A Shuster

Wayne Thomas Ferrar

Domenic Santilli

Kenneth Joseph Brown

Diane Marie Herrick

Lixin Chu

David E Hockey

Richard George Allen

Douglas Edward Garman

Cumar Sreekumar

W Charles Kasiske

William K Goebel

Graham S Wright

Jeffrey R Murray

Larry H Judkins

Amy J Deyaeger

A module, included in an electrophotographic printer, for making toner images by a method in which transfer current for electrostatic transfer of toner images to receiver members is adjusted to compensate for ambient variations of toner charge-to-mass ratio (q/m). A predetermined functional relationship between transfer current and a control voltage parameter is utilized. Magnitudes of the control voltage parameter are derived from voltage measurements relating to creation of toner control patches on a photoconductive image-recording member included in a modular electrophotographic printer. Control voltage magnitude is linearly dependent on q/m. The functional relationship, which is characterized by three experimentally determined parameters, is co-optimized for providing efficient transfer of toner images and for minimizing back-transfer of toner away from a receiver member in a transfer station included in the module.

Toner transfer technique

An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus includes: a primary imaging member for producing an electrostatic latent image on a receiver, a development station for applying toner particles to the latent image to form a developed toner image on the receiver, a fuser assembly for fixing the developed toner image to form a fused toner image on the receiver, and a transport member for transporting the receiver to or from the fuser assembly. The transport member includes a substrate and an oil-absorbing layer that contains inorganic particles dispersed in an organic binder and is capable of absorbing release oil applied to the receiver bearing the fused toner image.

Electrostatographic apparatus having transport member with release oil-absorbing layer

Preventing the imaging forming process of an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus having a plurality of imaging modules in tandem relative to a receiver transport belt moveable along a transport path from becoming contaminated with fuser release oil. A substantially uniform layer of the pigmented marking particles from the development subsystem of the image forming process is deposited onto the photoconductive member of the image forming process during any non-imaging cycles of the process, including cycle down, non-imaging skip frames, or recovery from a receiver jam. The substantially uniform layer of pigmented marking particles acts as a barrier to block fuser release oil from the photoconductive member and as a vehicle to carry away contaminating fuser release oil.

Fuser oil contamination prevention and clean-up method

In order to prevent an imaging forming process of an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus from becoming contaminated with fuser release oil, a substantially uniform layer of pigmented marking particles from a development subsystem of the image forming process is deposited onto a photoconductive member of the image forming process during any non-imaging cycles of the process, including cycle down, non-imaging skip frames, or recovery from a receiver jam. The substantially uniform layer of pigmented marking particles acts as a barrier to block fuser release oil from the photoconductive member and as a vehicle to carry away contaminating fuser release oil.

An electrostatographic machine having a transfer station including a toner image carrier and a transfer member for electrostatic transfer of toner from the toner image carrier to a toner-image area on a receiver sheet in a nip formed between the toner image carrier and the transfer member. Receiver sheet has a leading edge included in a leading edge margin area and a trailing edge included in a trailing edge margin area. A programmable power supply supplies and controls transfer station current. Before the leading edge enters the nip and after the trailing edge leaves the nip, but not while the toner-image area is in the nip, transfer station current is successively switchably altered by the programmable power supply between at least two predetermined magnitudes. The transfer station current is preferably zero, of a low magnitude, in at least a portion of the leading edge margin area so as to effectively suppress wrap.

Transfer of toner using a time-varying transfer station current

A toner image is transferred from an image member to a receiving sheet using a backing member or corona charger to which a constant current source is applied for creation of a transfer electrical field. A logic and control receives an input indicative of the width of the receiving sheet and adjusts the current applied by the constant current source accordingly. Preferably, the logic and control also has an input indicative of the resistance of the receiving sheet, for example, determined by determining relative humidity and/or the thickness of the receiving sheet, which also is used with the width input to adjust the current applied by the constant current source.

Image forming apparatus usable with variable width receivers

An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus having a dielectric member transported about a path in sequential operative relation with electrographic process stations. The moving dielectric member is uniformly charged, and thereafter the uniform charge on the dielectrid member is selectively altered to form a latent image charge pattern thereon corresponding to information to be reproduced. The latent image charge pattern on the dielectric member is developed with triboelectrically charged pigmented marking particles. A receiver member is transported into operative association with a marking particle developed image on the dielectric member. An electrostatic charge is placed on the receiver member, such charge being of a polarity to induce transfer of a marking particle developed image from the dielectric member to the receiver member. The image bearing receiver member is transported along a path from the dielectric member to a fixing apparatus where a transferred developed marking particle image is fixed to the receiver member. A charger, located adjacent to the mechanism for transporting the image bearing receiver member, is for the purpose of placing a charge on a receiver member transported along the path from the dielectric member to the fixing apparatus, such charge being of the opposite polarity as the charge applied to the receiver member to effect transfer of the developed marking particle image to such receiver member.

Active charging to prevent image disruption

A process and apparatus is provided for liquid development of a latent electrostatic image. A member bearing an electrostatic image is moved successively past (a) a toner liquid dispersion applying station wherein the latent image is developed, (b) a skiving station wherein residual liquid developer is removed, (c) a rinsing station wherein a rinse liquid is applied, and, if required, (d) another skiving station wherein residual rinse liquid is removed. the first skiving station preferably employs a conductive, resilient roller which is applied under pressure to the member and which is also initially covered with a flush liquid. The rinse liquid is preferably the toner liquid dispersion.

Liquid toning process and apparatus

A second exposure device is used to annotate color images produced by an electrophotographic printer. The exposure level and position of the annotation are chosen based on the color density content of the image.

Method and apparatus for annotating electrophotographic prints of

Ion projection is used to annotate color images produced by an electrophotographic printer. The charge polarity, charge level and positions of the charge are selectively deposited on color separation images on a photoconductor.

Disclosed is an electrographic recording receiver for use in a process where styli in a writing head deposit electric charges on an electrographic receiver. The receiver comprises a substrate having a conductive layer on an insulating support, a dielectric layer having an image area on the conductive layer, conductive particles embedded in the image area of the dielectric layer in contact with the conductive layer and extending or protruding through the surface of the dielectric layer to provide an electrical path between a ground and the conductive layer through the conductive particles, and insulating particles embedded in and extending through the surface of the image area of the dielectric layer to a distance greater than the conductive particles to provide a substantially uniform distance between the styli and the dielectric layer. Also disclosed is a method of making such a receiver and a method of forming an electrostatic image on such a receiver.

Electrographic recording receiver

An ion projection print head for applying ions line-by-line from a substantially uniform linear ion source, in a modulated pattern to a moving ion receptor substrate to form a latent image charge pattern on such substrate corresponding to information to be reproduced. The ion projection print head comprises a substantially planar mask having an elongated slot defined therethrough, the slot being oriented in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to an element of the ion receptor substrate transverse to the direction of movement of such substrate. A continuous electrode is formed on the side of the mask between the mask and the ion source, and a plurality of electrodes are formed on the side of the mask opposite from the continuous electrode. The plurality of electrodes are spaced apart in insulating relationship from one another and terminate at the slot. An electrical bias is selectively applied to the plurality of electrodes respectively to modulate ion flow through the slot from the ion source to the receptor substrate.

Ion projection print head

A device for coupling the conductive layer of a film-type photoconductor sheet to a source of reference potential includes a plurality of sharp, vitreous carbon particles which are attached to an engaging member and electrically coupled to a source of reference potential, e.g. ground. The engaging member is adapted to urge the particles to penetrate the photoconductive insulator layer and form a low resistance, ohmic contact with the conductive layer of the photoconductor sheet.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

David McLaughlin Rakov