Eastman-kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

Other

Jerry Eugene Livadas

Scott Thomas Slattery

Eric C Stelter

James R Carey

Rodney Ray Bucks

Arthur S Kroll

Muhammed Aslam

Mark Cameron Zaretsky

Jan Bares

Timothy John Young

Thomas K Hilbert

Michael L DeCecca

Alan Earl Rapkin

Robert David Bobo

Christopher Stephen Garcia

Michael E Jacobs

W Charles Kasiske

Timothy Gilbert Armstrong

Donald Steven Hensel

Andrew Peter Kittleson

Arthur E Dunn

Gary Edwin Nichols

D Steven Kepner

Thomas Samuel Albrecht

James H Huntington

Patricia D Reuschle

Daniel Francis Vespone

Cathlyn Y Yu

Chung-Hui Kuo

Hwai-Tzuu Tai

James G Rydelek

Dennis R Kamp

Kevin D Lofftus

Stacy M Munechika

Allen Kass

Susan P Westbrook

David M Gaudino

Michelle Wise

John M Beres

Thomas Kurt Hilbert

David R Fairport

Michelle Dawn Wise

David A Roets

Correction data is produced for density errors in prints produced using a printer. While printing a test image, the periods of rotation of one or more rotatable imaging members arranged along a receiver feed path in the printer are measured using respective period sensors. The printed test image is measured along a selected measurement direction and a reproduction error signal representing deviation from aim density is determined. For each period sensor, the autocorrelation of the reproduction error signal for the corresponding period is determined. If the determined autocorrelation exceeds a selected threshold, the reproduction error signal is decomposed at the corresponding period to extract the variation from the measured component. The remaining error signal is separated by frequency terms. The variations from the data at measured periods and the remaining error signal are used to produce a correction signal.

Producing correction data for printer

A development system () for an electrophotographic printer with multiple augers containing a development roller () and a first channel contains a feed auger () and developer, with a plurality of paddles () attached to the feed auger, at least some the paddles increase in size with respect to a previous paddle along a direction of developer flow (). This arrangement of paddles ensures that a uniform layer of developer is formed on the development roller despite the volume of developer in the first channel decreasing along the length of the first channel in the direction of developer flow.

Method of using feed auger with paddles

A method for transporting developer in an electrophotographic printer with multiple augers includes transporting developer from a first channel to a development roller across at least a portion of the development roller; releasing spent developer from the development roller to a second channel; wherein the second channel has a first region having a first cross-sectional area and a second region having a second cross-sectional area; wherein the first region is a mixing region the second region is a transport region; and wherein the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross sectional area.

Method for transporting electrophotographic developer in a printer

Feed auger with paddles

A development system () for an electrophotographic printer () with multiple augers containing a development roller (), a first channel () containing a feed auger (), and a second channel () containing a mixing auger () with the second channel having regions optimized for either developer mixing or developer transport. Optimizing the regions of the second channel for mixing and transport ensures that a homogeneous developer is steadily provided to the first channel and the development roller, thus enabling the production of uniform, high-quality images.

Electrophotographic printer development system with multiple augers

An electrophotographic (EP) printer for transferring a toner image to a receiver sheet has a tensioned rotatable transport web with a Young's modulus of at least 1 GPa. The transport web is wrapped around a compliant image-bearing member. A compressible, rotatable nip-forming member that is relatively less stiff than the image-bearing member is adjacent to the transport web on the opposite side thereof from the image-bearing member. A mount holds the nip-forming member against the image-bearing member, and permits the axis of rotation of the nip-forming member to move closer to or farther from the transport web. When the leading edge of the receiver on the web engages with the image-bearing member, the nip-forming member compresses. The axis of rotation of the nip-forming member translates by an amount less than the thickness of the receiver sheet minus the compression of the compliant coating of the image-bearing member.

Electrophotographic printer with compressible-backup transfer station

An electrophotographic (EP) printer prints on a receiver sheet moving on a tensioned rotatable transport web with a Young's modulus of at least 1 GPa. The transport web is wrapped around a compliant image-bearing member. Two transfer stations are arranged along the belt, each with a rotatable image-bearing member. The first station has a first rotatable nip-forming member disposed adjacent to the transport web on the opposite side thereof from the first image-bearing member. The first rotatable nip-forming member is relatively stiffer than the first image-bearing member. The second station has a nip-forming member on a compliant mount. The second rotatable nip-forming member is relatively less stiff than the second image-bearing member.

Printer with compressible and incompressible transfer backups

An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes apparatus for agitating toner contained by a relatively large toner container (e.g., 10-25 liters in volume). The apparatus includes a substantially vertically-oriented shaft supporting a blade that operates, as the blade rotates, to drive the contained toner mass upwardly, thereby aerating the mass and preventing compaction during toner dispensing.

Apparatus and method for agitating toner in a container to facilitate toner dispensing in an electrostatographic printer

An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes apparatus for drawing ambient air in a vertical direction, preferably upwards, through a relatively large toner container. The air-flow is sufficient to fluidize the toner in the toner container and thereby prevent compaction. Such fluidization is optionally supplemented by the action of an auger or propeller mechanism mounted within the toner container. During rotation of the auger/propeller, the toner is lifted and thereby further prevents toner compaction.

Apparatus and method for dispensing toner from a container to an image development station of an electrostatographic printer

An interface member providing flow communication of particulate material between a particulate material receptacle and a housing of a mechanism for replenishing particulate material from a receptacle to a remote reservoir. The interface member includes a casting defining a flow communication passage. A plate is attached to the casting at an angle to the horizontal to define an angled entrance to the casting. A member, associated with said angled entrance plate, is provided for guiding and holding the marking particle receptacle at a corresponding angle to the horizontal when the receptacle is installed on the angled entrance plate, whereby the angled orientation of the receptacle lets air percolate into the receptacle while the receptacle is emptying, allowing the particulate material to flow freely out of the receptacle.

Replenisher mechanism interface

A mechanism for replenishing particulate material from receptacles to a reservoir, which provides a highly accurate and continuous indication of the amount of particulate material remaining in the housing of the replenisher mechanism. The replenisher mechanism includes a housing having a plurality of discrete sensors for sensing the level of particulate material within the housing, a delivery assembly which provides flow communication of particulate material between the housing and a remote reservoir, and has a delivery assembly sensor that senses the amount of particulate material delivered by the delivery assembly. A logic and control unit operatively connected to the housing level sensors and the delivery assembly sensor continuously determines the amount of particulate material remaining in the housing so as to indicate when, and how much, particulate material to add to the housing.

Replenisher mechanism for a reproduction apparatus development station with continuous monitoring of remaining marking particle material

A magnetic brush development station with a housing forming a reservoir for developer material has a plurality of augers located in the housing for mixing developer material. A drive for the plurality of augers includes an assembly having a body extending through the development station housing. A plurality of bearings are positioned in the body with a spacer between the plurality of bearings. A rotatable shaft is connected between the plurality of augers and an auger drive member. A seal for the rotatable shaft has a lip formed of a material which is able to stretch sufficiently to maintain sealing contact with the shaft while the shaft is being rotated by the auger drive member.

Development station for a reproduction apparatus

A magnetic brush development station for a reproduction apparatus. The magnetic brush development station includes a housing forming, at least in part, a reservoir for developer material. The reservoir has a pressure equalization seal. A mechanism is associated with the housing for readily moving the housing relative to the reproduction apparatus. Another mechanism selectively readily replenishes and/or empties at least one component of developer material with respect to the reservoir. A plurality of augers are located in the housing for mixing developer material within the reservoir. A drive for the augers, extending through the housing, has a seal therefor. A development roller, mounted within the housing, delivers developer material from the reservoir to a development zone. The development roller includes a core magnet inside a shell such that the core magnet and the shell having relative rotation. The core magnet extends less than the entire length of the development roller such that the developer nap on the shell does not extend to the end of the development roller. A metering skive, extending the length of the development roller, controls the quantity of developer material delivered from the reservoir portion of the housing to the development zone. The metering skive is positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the development roller at a location upstream in the direction of shell rotation prior to the development zone. Further, a magnetic seal is located in association with the skive at each end of the development roller. The magnetic field of the magnetic seal is sufficient to substantially prevent leakage of developer material from the ends of the development roller.

A mechanism for replenishing particulate material from a receptacle to a remote reservoir. The replenisher mechanism includes a housing having a sensor for sensing the level of particulate material within the housing, pair of spaced end walls, and a pair of spaced side walls. At least a portion of the side walls are flexible. An interface provides flow communication of particulate material between a particulate material receptacle and the housing, and a delivery assembly provides flow communication of particulate material between the housing and a remote reservoir. At least one paddle assembly is operatively associated with at least one of the flexible side walls for moving such side wall in a manner to substantially prevent agglomeration and flake production in the particulate material within the housing. The paddle assembly includes a first pivot rod mounted in fixed spatial relation to the housing, a paddle supported on the first pivot rod, a second pivot rod carried by the paddle. A reciprocating actuator arm is connected to the second pivot rod to selectively move the paddle about the first pivot rod. A lever is pivotably mounted on the second pivot rod, whereby when the paddle is rotated about the first pivot rod by reciprocation of the actuator arm, the lever rotates about the second pivot rod providing movement of the flexible membrane adjacent to the first pivot rod causing the breaking of any particulate material bridges at that point.

Replenisher mechanism for a development station of a reproduction apparatus

A fuser, for a reproduction apparatus, having at least one heated fuser roller operating at a setpoint temperature to permanently fix a marking particle image to a receiver member, and a mechanism for controlling temperature droop in the heated fuser roller. The temperature droop controlling mechanism includes a heat sink having a thermal mass selected to substantially match the heat take out rate for the nominal fuser operating process, the heat sink being movable to a position in operative contact with the heated fuser roller and a nonoperative position remote from heated fuser roller. A logic and control unit is provided for moving the heat sink from the nonoperative remote position to the operative position contacting heated fuser roller as soon as a reproduction apparatus job run is started to remove heat from the heated fuser roller thus lowering its surface temperature from the setpoint temperature. The logic and control unit then causes the fuser roller heating device to be turned on to bring the heated fuser roller surface temperature back up toward the setpoint temperature. Subsequently, when the first receiver member to be fused reaches the heated fuser roller, the logic and control unit causes the heat sink to move to the nonoperative position remote from the fuser roller, whereby temperature droop in the fuser roller is minimized.

Fuser for reproduction apparatus with minimized temperature droop

Growing community of inventors

Webster, NY, United States of America

Jerry Eugene Livadas