Eastman-kodak Company

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Nexpress Digital LLC

Kenneth P Friedrich

Eric C Stelter

Joseph E Guth

Philip A Stern

Laverne N Lincoln, Jr

Patrick M Lambert

George R Walgrove, Iii

Edward Michael Eck

Gary B Bertram

Kurt E Jones

Scott Thomas Slattery

James Denny Anthony

James A Zimmer, Jr

Michael Frauens

Kenneth M Patterson

Ronald E Auty

Gerald M Darby, Ii

William A Hameister

Robert S Rejewski

Wunan Chang

Guy J Rossi

Peter J Leas

Lamont R Wright

Allan M Kaplan

Apparatus and methods for applying powder coatings to a substrate either directly or by intermediate transfer using a magnetic brush developer.

Powder coating apparatus and method of powder coating using an electromagnetic brush

A simple and economical method and apparatus for identifying the toner installed in a multi-toner printer by identifying the toner holder installed in the printer is disclosed. Additionally, the multi-toner printer is controlled based on the toner holder installed and a job selection. A toner identification apparatus comprising a toner identification module, a display device, and an input device, identifies the toner holder installed in a multi-toner printer by producing and identifying a unique voltage identification signal for the installed toner holder. A job selection algorithm determines whether the installed toner holder is the correct toner holder for a specified job selection. Additionally, if the toner holder installed in the multi-toner printer contains MICR toner, the job selection algorithm mandates a security procedure that must be carried out in order for printing to be allowed. In response to the job selection algorithm, the toner identification apparatus creates a control signal that instructs a control device of a multi-toner printer whether to allow a selected print job.

Method and apparatus for toner identification

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

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

A mechanism and process for detecting mottle or banding in a developed electrophotographic image. Within an electrophotographic reproduction apparatus, a photoconductor is used for receiving and developing a latent image. The photoconductor traverses a path that passes a charging station, an exposure station, a toning station, and a transfer station. Either a densitometerfor measuring the density of the developed image on the photoconductor, or an electrometerorfor detecting the voltage of the image on the photoconductor, detects mottle or banding on the developed image. The densitometeror electrometerorhas an aperture small enough to detect mottle or banding with wavelengths perceptible by human eyes. A logic and control unitaverages the image density or voltage measurements, calculates the variations of the measurements about the average and the periodicities of the measurements, and if the variations or periodicities indicate mottle or banding is present, changes the operation of one or more stations to reduce mottle or banding.

Reduction of banding and mottle in electrophotographic systems

A method and apparatus for replenishing toner based on the electric current used over time by the exposure subsystem. Toner take-out for each image is estimated by measuring the current used by the exposure system, subtracting the quiescent current, integrating over a page or frame, and multiplying by a predetermined value that indicates the amount of toner required by the image, based on the average current used for the exposure and other process parameters. These calculations are done either in hardware or in software. The replenishment system is used to add the correct amount of toner to the developer station to maintain the toner concentration at an approximately constant aim value.

Toner replenishment based on writer current

An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus having a transfer assembly, including an electrically biased transfer roller in nip relation with a dielectric support member, for effecting transfer of a pigmented marking particle image from an image area of a dielectric support member to a receiver member in transfer relation with the dielectric support member in the transfer nip, a mechanism for cleaning the transfer roller including a control for the electrical bias on the transfer roller. The electrical bias control has a power supply generating an electrical output, of a settable polarity, connected to the transfer roller for applying an electrical bias of a set polarity thereto. A mechanism disables the power supply for a period of time during a start-up phase of reproduction so as to prevent transfer of residual marking particles from the dielectric support member to the transfer roller.

Electrostatographic reproduction method and apparatus with improved start-up to substantially prevent transfer roller contamination

An apparatus is provided for determining the response of an electrometer used in an electrophotographic recording apparatus. The apparatus includes a movable base disposed adjacent said electrometer. The base includes a non-conductive material. A conductive pattern is disposed on the base. The conductive pattern is electrically connected to a variable power supply. A motor moves or drives the base past the electrometer. The motor is controlled by a motor control to vary the speed of movement of said base. A method is also provided for determining the response of an electrometer used in an electrophotographic recording apparatus. An electrometer to be tested is selected and the operational parameters of the electrometer are dynamically tested.

Tools for measuring electrometer dispenser response

An apparatus for measuring the deflection of a belt in an electrophotographic printing machine includes an elongate arm member having a first end and a second end. The second end engages and is displaced by the belt. A gearbox includes a plurality of gears interconnected into a gear arrangement, and a gearbox shaft rotatable by the gear arrangement. The second end of the arm member is coupled to the gear arrangement, which converts displacement of the second end of the arm member to rotation of the gearbox shaft. An encoder is associated with the gearbox shaft. The encoder includes at least one encoder output. The encoder senses rotation of the gearbox shaft and issues electrical pulses on the encoder output. The electrical pulses are indicative of the magnitude and direction of the rotation of the gearbox shaft. A counter includes at least one counter input and at least one counter output. The counter input is electrically connected to the encoder output. The counter counts the electrical pulses and activates the counter output based at least in part upon the electrical pulses.

Method and apparatus for setting transfer roller engagement

The present invention provides an image-forming machine having a photoconductor forming a surface and a toning station adjacent the surface. The toning station has at least one roller for supplying toner near the surface. Additionally, the image-forming machine has a replenisher station for supplying toner to the toning station. The replenisher station includes a moving part connected with the replenisher station, and a control device located near the moving part. The control device monitors the movement of the moving part and generates a timing signal in response. The present invention also provides a method for detecting toner clogging in a replenisher station for an image-forming machine. The method includes monitoring the movement of a moving part connected with the replenisher station, generating a timing signal in response to the movement of the moving part, and determining whether toner is clogged in the replenisher station based upon the timing signal.

Image-forming machine having a control device for detecting toner clogging in a replenisher station

A system and method for increasing the rate at which the printing of images and documents can take place, is provided. The document or image to be reproduced is positioned at an image capture location. To capture the image, the desired image is illuminated by lamps and ultimately transferred onto paper. The illumination device is driven by multiple energy sources that can be synchronized to charge and fire in an alternating manner to drive the illumination device at the desired rate.

Method and system for increasing flash rate in a document reproduction system

The invention relates to cleaning systems for electrographic processes and, in particular, to detecting leaks in such processes. A process and apparatus for sensing leaks is provided in an electrographic process cleaning system of the type configured to have a particle collection container. According to an aspect of the invention, a pressure is sensed that is indicative of pressure inside the particle collection container.

Apparatus and process for detecting leaks in an electrographic cleaning system

A protection circuit for an electrophotographic image-forming apparatus is disclosed. The protection circuit monitors the operational state between the power supply and scavenger plate of the electrophotographic image-forming apparatus and issues an interrupt signal whenever a de-coupled state is sensed.

Scavenger plate monitoring system

This invention provides an image-forming machine with a pulse densitometer that avoids the formation of artifacts on electrophotographic films. The image-forming machine may have a charger, an exposure machine, a toning station, a transfer charger, a fusing station, and a densitometer positioned next to a photoconductor. The densitometer may have an emitter, a collector, and a pulse apparatus. The densitometer provides one or more pulses to measure the toner and photoconductor densities. The pulsed emissions are essentially below the exposure threshold of electrophotographic films, especially those sensitive to the infrared spectral region.

Image-forming machine with a pulse densitometer

Modification of process control signals so as to enable electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, including a dielectric support member transported about a path into operative association with electrographic process elements to form an information reproduction on a receiver member and a process controller for receiving and sending appropriate timing control signals in an expected value range for controlling the electrographic process, to operate over an alternate process range. For the desired signal modification, an input signal in a particular value range is received. A predetermined gain is applied to the received signal, and thereafter a predetermined offset is applied to the signal as modified by the gain application. The signal derived by gain application and offset is then emitted at an alternate value range to effect process control.

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Honeoye, NY, United States of America

Kenneth P Friedrich