Xerox Corporation

Kenneth S Palumbo

Patricia Joanne Donaldson

Mark A Scheuer

Daniel W MacDonald

Carl B Hurwitch

Robin E Berman

Douglas A Lundy

Robert E Rosdahl, Jr

Robert A Pictor

Anthony L Paolini

Alan Goldsmith

George E Bell

Clement B Wilson

Anthony J Paolini

Daniel H Thibado

A toner cartridge is mounted movably on a developer unit of a printing machine. The toner cartridge stores a quantity of toner particles therein. A bar code is provided on the exterior surface of the toner cartridge. The bar code provides information concerning the toner particles within the housing. A bar code reader periodically detects the bar code and transmits information to a processing unit indicating the characteristics of the toner cartridge. This enables discrimination between different toner cartridges, ensuring that the proper toner cartridge is installed in the developer unit of the printing machine. In addition, the processing unit, in response to receiving a signal indicating that the bar code has been detected, provides a signal indicative of the quantity of toner particles remaining in the toner cartridge. This signal is transmitted to a graphical user interface which displays the remaining quantity of toner particles in the cartridge.

Toner cartridge with self identification system

An electrophotographic printing machine, wherein an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with toner to form a visible image thereof, wherein the improvement includes an apparatus for alleviating toner contamination of the electrophotographic printing machine while maintaining high quality visible images. The apparatus includes a first housing defining a chamber storing a supply of toner of a first color; the first housing including a first toner donor member spaced a first predetermined spacing from the surface and being adapted to transport toner of the first color to a region opposed from the surface, and a second toner donor member spaced a second predetermined spacing from the surface and being adapted to transport toner of the first color to the region opposed from the surface; and wherein the first predetermined spacing is substantially greater than the second predetermined spacing.

Multi-roll developer housing with converging belt to roll spacing

An apparatus for replenishing toner in a developer unit has a plurality of toner discharge units. A selected discharge unit is energized to dispense toner into the developer unit with the other discharge units being de-energized. After the energized discharge unit is substantially depleted of toner, another toner discharge unit is energized. The depleted toner discharge unit is removed and replaced with a new toner discharge unit.

Multicontainer toner dispensing apparatus

A pair of Electronic Voltmeters (ESV) are utilized to control the photoreceptor charging voltage in a Tri-Level imaging apparatus. One of the ESVs is used to control the voltage increases of a charging device. The other ESV is used to monitor the charge level of the charged area image of a Tri-Level image. When a critical value is sensed the control of the charging device is shifted to the ESV that monitors the charged area image level and limits the output from the charging device to a predetermined target value.

Charged area (CAD) image loss control in a tri-level imaging apparatus

A cleaner band stretchably disposed, across the imaging surface width, between two rotating cleaner brushes. The cleaner band is slightly off center and down process from the brush backup roll. The cleaner band acts as a disturber for dislodging large agglomerate residual particles from the imaging surface.

Stretchable cleaner band disturber

A single pass tri-level imaging apparatus and method. Compensation for the effects of dark decay on the background voltage, V.sub.Mod, and the color toner patch, V.sub.tc readings is provided using two ESVs (ESV.sub.1 and ESV.sub.2), the former located prior to the color or DAD housing and the latter after it. Since the CAD and black toner patch voltages are measured (using ESV.sub.2) after dark decay and CAD voltage loss have occurred, no compensation for these readings is required. The DAD image voltage suffers little dark decay change over the life of the P/R so the average dark decay can be built into the voltage target.

Dark decay control system utilizing two electrostatic voltmeters

If developer within a xerographic developing apparatus becomes excessively charged, excessive toner is added to the apparatus because the excessively charged developer prevents a sensor from sensing the actual toner density within the apparatus. To overcome this problem, an element (contacted by the developer during movement of the latter within the apparatus) is connected to ground through a surge voltage protector. This prevents both the element and the developer from being excessively charged.

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Irondequoit, NY, United States of America

Kenneth S Palumbo