Eastman-kodak Company

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Heidelberg Digital L.l.c.

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

George R Walgrove, Iii

Gary B Bertram

Dana G Marsh

Michael Frauens

David E Hockey

Daniel R Palmer

Matthias Hermann Regelsberger

M Cristina B Dejesus

Ronald E Auty

Gerald M Darby, Ii

Paul S Gloyer

John C Wilson

Eric C Stelter

John W May

William B Vreeland

Alan Richard Priebe

Francisco Luiz Ziegelmuller

Joseph E Guth

Terry Nate Morganti

Kevin D Lofftus

Charles Eugene Hewitt

Philip A Stern

Kenneth P Friedrich

Kurt E Jones

Michael H Parsons

Orville C Rodenberg

James F Paxon

James A Zimmer, Jr

Carol K Dunn

Martin J Pernesky

Gerald L Kelly, Iii

David L Dunaway

Warren G Branch, Iii

Patricia D Reuschle

Gerard M Darby

Kenneth T Pociatek

An imaging system may include first and second imaging assemblies for synchronously imaging on both sides of a receiver material using directed charged particle or aerosol toner printing methods. The imaging assemblies may in turn each include an imaging member and an intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member may be a split intermediate transfer member. The imaging system may also use flexible aperture print arrays.

Synchronous duplex printing systems using directed charged particle or aerosol toner development

The present invention provides conductivity control agents derived from the trans esterification of dialkyl phosphonium 5-sulfoisophthalate salts with poly(alkylene glycols). The conductivity control agents can be used with semi-conductive rolls, belts and other biasable members. The inclusion of the conductivity control agent in the polymeric or polyurethane elastomers extends the electrical life of the polymer biasable member in low humidity environments. Additionally, the resistivity of the elastomeric polymers or polyurethane on the biasable member is controlled to a desirable value by adjusting the conductivity control agent level in the polymer elastomers.

Biasable transfer composition and member

An imaging system may use electrophotographic processes to synchronously image on both sides of a receiver material, such as in a single pass of the receiver material through the imaging system. The system may include intermediate transfer members, which may be split rollers or non-split rollers. The intermediate transfer members may hold one image, or they may be 2-up or greater rollers that hold multiple images.

Synchronous duplex printing systems with intermediate transfer members

Synchronous duplex printing systems using directed charged particle of aerosol toner development

An imaging system may use pulsed dc voltages to synchronously image on both sides of a receiver material, such as during a single pass of the receiver material through the imaging system. The imaging system may use electrophotographic processes to image on the receiver material. Alternatively, the imaging system may use directed charged particle or aerosol toner development processes to image on the receiver material.

Synchronous duplex printing systems using pulsed DC fields

An electrophotographic machine includes a dielectric member configured for carrying a toner image. A transfer roller engages the dielectric member and transfers the toner image to an image substrate. A transfer roller power supply biases and periodically reverse biases the transfer roller. A transfer roller cleaning brush having conductive bristles engages the transfer roller. An electrically conductive brush housing encloses the transfer roller cleaning brush and defines an opening through which the bristles contact the transfer roller. The brush housing is electrically charged to the same electrical potential as said transfer roller and is selectively discharged.

Method and apparatus for discharging a conductive brush cleaning assembly for a transfer roller

Disclosed herein are polyurethane elastomers and shaped articles prepared therefrom comprising charge-control agents to provide electrical conductivity to the elastomers, thereby allowing for their use in electrophotographic processes. The elastomers comprise a polyisocyanate prepolymer, a polyether prepolymer, and a hardener mixture comprised of at least one additional polyol and a charge-control agent. When used in an electrophotographic process, the elastomers are capable of exhibiting resistivities of less than 6&#xd7;10ohm-cm for 600,000 images or more.

Polyurethane elastomers and shaped articles prepared therefrom

An electrophotographic machine includes a dielectric member carrying a toner image. A biased transfer roller engages the dielectric member and transfers the toner image to an image substrate. A cleaning brush having a plurality of bristles, at least some of which are electrically conductive, engages the transfer roller. An electrically conductive housing encloses the cleaning brush. The bristles contact the transfer roller through an opening in the housing. At least one of the cleaning brush and the housing is biased to substantially the same electrical potential as the transfer roller.

Conductive brush cleaner for a transfer roller

An electrographic machine has a transfer station where a toner image is transferred to a receiver sheet. That sheet travels at a high speed of more than 15 inches per second and up to as high as 35 inches per second. A transfer roller has a metal core and an elastomeric sleeve with a resistivity selected to optimize transfer of toner at high speeds. The resistivity of the sleeve is selected to be high enough to support transfer of the toner but not so high as to cause the surface voltage to exceed the breakdown voltage of the dielectric material that includes the elastomeric sleeve, the receiver sheet, the toner and the photoconductor.

Transfer roller with resistivity range

The present invention relates in general to a corona charger for use in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus or the like, and more particularly to a cleaning mechanism for the corona wires of a corona charger. According to one aspect, a corona wire assembly is provided having a corona wire and a cleaning pad with a hole, the corona wire extending through the hole. According to another aspect, a method for cleaning a corona wire is provided wherein relative movement is generated between a corona wire and a cleaning pad having a hole, the corona wire extending through the hole. According to a further aspect, a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the surface of a corona wire within a corona charger is provided having a cleaning pad, a corona wire passing through the cleaning pad and positioning the cleaning pad in at least one direction lateral to the corona wire, and a holding member holding the cleaning pad without restraining the cleaning pad in the at least one direction lateral to the corona wire.

Mechanism and method for cleaning corona wires

A mechanism for automatically cleaning the surface of a corona wire within a corona charger is described, wherein the a cleaning assembly includes a cleaning pad mounted within a pad holder, the cleaning pad wrapped around a substantial portion of a circumference of the corona wire for wiping the surface of the corona wire. The cleaning mechanism also includes means for holding the cleaning assembly within the corona charger in association with the corona wire, means, associated with the holding means, for moving the holding means linearly along the length of the corona wire, and means for automatically selectively activating the moving means to move the holding means such that the cleaning assembly is moved to clean the corona wire. In one embodiment, the cleaning assembly includes at least one finishing stone mounted to a stone holder, wherein the finishing stone engages the surface of the corona wire.

Automatic mechanism for cleaning corona wires

This invention provides an image-forming machine with a conditioned cleaning system, which may have a photoconductor, one or more chargers, a toning station, and a cleaning station. Toner is applied to image areas and toner lubrication areas on the photoconductor. The toner essentially provides a lubricating or protective barrier between the cleaning station and the photoconductor.

Image-forming machine with a conditioned cleaning system

The invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for locking one element to another with a gimbal lock without castoring about a gimbal axis. In one preferred embodiment, a mounting apparatus and method for a roller transfer assembly for use in a reproduction apparatus are provided that accurately positions the roller transfer assembly in operative relation with a dielectric member of a reproduction apparatus with an anti-castor gimbal locking coupling.

Method and apparatus for locking elements about a gimbal axis

The present invention provides an electrophotographic (EP) image-forming machine and related method having activation of a charger cleaner in a corona charger after an arcing fault. The corona charger has corona wires connected to a high voltage potential supply, preferably providing a voltage in the range of about 5 to 11 kva or in the range of about 13,000 to 22,000 volts peak-to-peak. A corona voltage detection circuit is connected to measure current changes in the high voltage potential supply. A grid has a preselected electric potential to control the charge. The grid may be grounded, but preferably is connected to a power supply providing a voltage in the range of about 300 to 900 volts. A grid voltage detection circuit is connected to measure current changes in the power supply. The voltage detection circuits provide a voltage signal to a microprocessor. When arcing occurs, the microprocessor cycles the EP image-forming machine into a standby mode. The charger cleaning apparatus is activated to clean the charger. When the cleaning is completed, the EP image-forming machine returns to normal operation. In a further aspect of the present invention, the image-forming process stops when arcing occurs. The charger is cleaned. Any prints affected by the arcing are disposed. The image-forming process restarts at the image frame where the arc occurred.

Image-forming machine having charger cleaning activation after an arcing fault and related method

A high speed copier has a transfer roller and a cleaning brush . The cleaning performance is improved when the engagement of the two rollers exceeds a first threshold T . Their engagement is maintained below a stall threshold T

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

George R Walgrove, Iii