Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Eastman-kodak Company

Kenneth M Patterson

Paul Essic Thompson

Christopher Stephen Garcia

Charles R Winterberger

Thomas K Hilbert

Kenneth P Friedrich

Scott Thomas Slattery

James Denny Anthony

Gerald M Darby, Ii

Laverne N Lincoln, Jr

William A Hameister

Blaise P Pelligra

James George Blum

John P Toepper

A system, method, and apparatus for adjusting dry ink concentration in a developing station () of a printer is disclosed. The adjustment is performed by calculating the thermal drift of a dry ink monitor () and applying the result as a compensating factor in calculations in a software algorithm. The dry ink monitor () has a sensing port () in contact with a dry ink concentration and is connected to a dry ink monitor interface board () that houses a temperature sensor (). The monitor interface board () is positioned in proximity to the dry ink monitor () to enable the temperature sensor () to measure a temperature of the dry ink concentration. The software algorithm is used to adjust the dry ink concentration based on a slope coefficient calculated by the printer based on outputs from the dry ink monitor () and the dry ink monitor interface board ().

Dry ink concentration monitor interface with automated temperature compensation algorithm

An improved electrophotographic toning station for use in an electrophotographic printer includes a unitary bearing cap and tension sprocket assembly that allows for the use an intermediate drive chain to drive a primary drive sprocket that drives the toning shell at high speed, through a primary drive chain. A unitary bearing cap and tension sprocket assembly that allows the tension sprocket assembly to be properly located relative to the intermediate and primary drive sprockets, such that the components of the toning station may be adjusted relative to each other without interference from the tension sprocket assembly.

Toning station intermediate bearing cap and tension assembly

A replenisher for facilitating flow of toner in an electrophotographic apparatus. The replenisher includes a sump for receiving the toner. An beater element having a plurality of blades is rotatably mounted within the sump wherein some of the blades impart a shear force and a normal force along the axis of rotation to the toner while others of the blades impart a shear force and a normal force towards or away from the axis of rotation to the toner as the beater is rotated through the toner. This effectively &ldquo;aerates&rdquo; the toner and keeps it mobile within the sump.

Mechanism for agitating the toner in the replenisher of an electrophotographic machine

The invention relates generally to development apparatus for mixing and applying developer material to a latent image on an image-bearing member in an electrostatographic reproduction machine, such as a copier or printer. More particularly, this invention relates to a blender of the type for mixing electrostatographic developer comprising a plurality of blender segments mounted on a shaft. A resilient spacer is provided, according to an aspect of the invention, wherein said resilient spacer and said plurality of blender segments are compressed between said pair of stops. Residual looseness due to tolerance stack-up is eliminated.

Electrostatographic blender assembly and method

An electrophotographic printer having an improved flexible drive chain cover located to protect the toning shell drive chain from contamination with toner dust. The electrophotographic printer may include a rigid drive chain cover located adjacent the flexible drive chain guard and locate so that the flexible drive chain guard and the rigid drive chain overlap.

Toning station drive chain cover assembly

A seal for a rotary shaft extending from a container containing agitated abrasive particulates through a wall of the container. The seal includes a first polymeric member around the shaft and in engagement with the wall of the container with the shaft rotating inside the first member. The first member is in engagement with a second polymeric member positioned around the shaft for rotation with the shaft and relative to the first member. A third compressible member is positioned around the shaft for rotation with the shaft and the second member. A retaining ring maintains the first, second and third members in compression between the retaining ring and the wall.

Shaft seal

The invention provides a diagnostic system for a densitometer in an image-forming machine. An image-forming machine with a densitometer diagnostic system may have a photoconductor, one or more chargers, an exposure machine, a toning station, and a densitometer. A densitometer diagnostic system for an image-forming machine may have an emitter, a collector, amplifier circuitry, and diagnostic circuitry. The diagnostic circuitry reduces the drive current to the emitter in the densitometer by a known or calculable value. The output voltage from the amplifier circuitry in the densitometer is reduced in proportion to the reduction in the drive current. To perform diagnostic testing of the densitometer, a first output voltage is obtained from the densitometer without the diagnostic circuitry connected. A second output voltage is obtained from the densitometer with the diagnostic circuitry connected. When the difference in first and second output voltages matches an output voltage specification, the densitometer is functional. The diagnostic circuitry may be removed from the densitometer when not in use. Alternatively, the densitometer may have a switch to disconnect the diagnostic circuitry when not in use.

Growing community of inventors

Hilton, NY, United States of America

Kenneth M Patterson