Eastman-kodak Company

Other

John P Marcelletti

John C Fournier

Donald Calvin Buch

Edward P Furlani

John A Winterberger

James Allan Micket

Edward J Sullivan

A control system for an optical sheet sensor device, including at least one light emitter and at least one light detector associated therewith for sensing a sheet in a sheet travel path for automatically controlling the sheet sensor device in order to provide an intensity of light from the light emitter to compensate for varying background reflectance and background-to-light emitter distance. The control provided for determining a light emitter current level corresponding to an operating condition where a sheet is known to be absent from the sheet travel path and where there is a close, reflective background to the light emitter. A light emitter current operating level corresponding to a reduced level with respect to the above determined current level is stored. A current startup error level at a preset amount off-set from the stored current level is determined. Current is applied to a light emitter, the applied current being increased toward a level at which the threshold level for the light detector is exceeded. The instantaneous applied current level is compared with the determined startup error current level, and an error signal is provided when the light intensity threshold is reached prior to the applied current level exceeding the determined current level. If the determined startup error current level is exceeded by the applied current level prior to the light intensity reaching the light intensity threshold, the light emitter is operated at the applied current level.

Automatic control of reflective-type sensors in reproduction apparatus

A power supply adapted for use with a corona charger. The power supply includes a first DC power source providing an electrical potential above a predetermined reference potential, and a second DC power source providing an electrical potential below such predetermined reference potential. A main circuit having an output adapted to be connected to a corona charger, includes a switching circuit for selectively turning the first and second DC power sources on and off in a manner so as to provide a an electrical potential having an AC waveform output for the main circuit.

Bipolar-duty cycle controllable DC corona power supply

A fuser for fixing a toner image to a receiver sheet includes a housing, a fusing roller mounted for rotation within the housing, and a rotatable wick for applying offset-preventing liquid to the fusing roller. The rotatable wick is adjustable between a first position in frictional contact with the fusing roller, wherein the rotatable wick is rotated by the fusing roller and applies an amount of offset-preventing liquid to the fusing roller, and a second position spaced from the fusing roller. An actuation structure selectively moves the rotatable wick between its first and second positions. A motor and a transmission interconnecting the motor and the rotatable wick, at least when the rotatable wick is in its second position, are provided to effect rotation of the rotatable wick to inhibit settlement of offset-preventing liquid in the rotatable wick.

Motorized wick for fusing apparatus

A control system for an optical sheet sensor device, including at least one light emitter and at least one light detector associated therewith for sensing a sheet in a sheet travel path, having a control system for automatically adjusting the intensity of said light from said light emitter. The control system stores a light emitter current level corresponding to a known valid operating condition where, when a sheet is absent from the sheet travel path, light detected at a light detector beyond a threshold level. A current level at a preset amount off-set from said stored current level is determined. A current is applied to a light emitter, the applied current rising toward a level at which the threshold level for the light detector is reached. The instantaneous applied current level is compared with the determined current level, and an error signal is provided when the applied current level reaches the determined current level. If the determined current level is not reached by the applied current level, the light emitter is operated at the applied current level, and if the determined level is reached, such error signal is provided.

Control system for automatic intensity adjustment of light emitters of a

A brake for a sprocket-optical encoder assembly associated with an electrophotographic copier consists of a metal disc positioned in a magnetic field, mounted on a common shaft with the sprocket driving an optical encoder. The teeth of the sprocket are engaged in perforations in the photoconductor film belt of the copier, and the sprocket and the shaft, together with the disc and encoder are, therefore, driven by movement of the film. As the disc is caused to rotate in the magnetic field, eddy currents are generated therein which resist the rotation. Such resistance acts as a brake on the sprocket, causing the trailing edge of its teeth to maintain contact with the trailing edge of the perforations, thereby avoiding back and forth movement of the teeth within the perforations and consequential destructive impacts with the edges thereof.

Magnetic brake for pivotal device

An optical encoder monitors linear CCD elements as an edge of a perforation or other optical indicia passes along the elements. A line printhead is actauted at least one in response to each new element being activated. The device is particularly useful in a color nonimpact printer in which multiple images are superimposed by line printing, preferably at printheads at a plurality of locations, to create multicolor images.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

John P Marcelletti