Output Technology Corporation

Joseph J Pfeuffer

Michael W Bacus

Dick T Price

A continuous-form electrophotographic printer 10 measures velocity information each time a new continuous-form media 12 is loaded into the printer to compensate for differences in media, printer wear, and variations in manufacturing tolerances. The continuous-form electrophotographic printer 10 includes a media motion assembly 53 which moves the continuous-form media 12 at a constant velocity initially past an image transfer station 20 and then past an image fixing station 22. A media motion sensor 49 measures the movement of the media 12 and outputs a signal at equal predetermined segments of the media. An image forming device 60 at the image transfer station 20 places multiple scan lines at a predetermined scan rate on a drum 28. A scan line sensor 78 senses each scan line. A speed control system 52 varies the velocity of the media for sequential segments of media and counts the number of scan lines per media segment. The speed control system 52 compares the actual number of scan lines to a predetermined optimum number of scan lines, and then adjusts the velocity of the media based upon the comparison. As a result, the media is moved at a velocity which permits the optimum number of scan lines per media segment.

Electrophotographic printer with media speed control

An electrophotographic printer 10 is described having a print justification control for controlling the justification of the print should the linear speed of the print media 12 passing through the printer 10 be out of synchronization with the rotation of the photo conductive drum 40. The printer has a scan sensor 82 for scanning each scan line. A processor 90 compares the number of actual scan lines to a desired number of scan lines for each print media segment. A print moving sensor is provided to generate a signal for each movement of a print segment of the media. A comparison is made by the processor 90 to determine the number of actual image information scan lines placed in each media segment and for duplicating scan lines should the number of actual scan lines exceed a preset number. If the linear speed of the print media is greater than the circumferential speed of the electro conductive drum, then a processor 90 deletes scan lines. The printer 10 includes a print control system 86 that has an all-white scan line sensor circuit 112 that senses the presence of an all-white image information scan line. This information is provided to the processor 90 to duplicate such an all-white scan line if an out-of-phase condition occurs. If an all-white scan line cannot be found, then the processor 90 selects a particular scan line location for duplication or for deletion or proceeds through a random selection algorithm for selecting such lines for duplication or deletion.

Electrophotographic printer with print justification control

A continuous-form electrophotographic printer 10 for printing an image onto a continuous-form media 12 includes a media motion assembly 53 which moves the continuous-form media 12 at a velocity initially past an image transfer station 20 and then past an image fixing station 22. An image transfer assembly 28 at the image transfer station 20 transfers an electrophotographic image onto the continuous-form media 12. The media motion assembly 53 includes a roller-fusing assembly 42 at the image fixing station 22 to affix the electrophotographic image to the continuous-form media 12. The roller-fusing assembly 42 includes a fuser roller 44 heated to a predetermined temperature and a fuser temperature sensor 47 adjacent the fuser roller to monitor the fuser temperature. The printer 10 also includes a speed control system 52 which adjusts the velocity of the media (by changing the rotational speed of the motor 50) in accordance with the fuser temperature sensed by the fuser temperature sensor to obtain a predetermined optimum media velocity.

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Spokane, WA, United States of America

Joseph J Pfeuffer