Xerox Corporation

Matthew Dondiego

Lloyd A Williams

Joannes N M deJong

Paul N Richards

Michael J Savino

Vittorio R Castelli

Ruddy Castillo

Douglas K Herrmann

Barry Paul Mandel

Linn C Hoover

Steven Robert Moore

William J Nowak

Joannes N M De Jong

Rudy Castillo

According to aspects illustrated herein, there are provided methods and systems for applying continuous tension on a belt/cable system. The automatic tensioning system includes a pivot mechanism and a locking mechanism. The pivot mechanism includes a pivot arm extending between an idler pulley and a pivot point. The idler pulley is mateable with a belt/cable. The belt/cable is routed about the idler pulley. The idler pulley rotates by the movement of the belt/cable, and the pivot arm pivots in an opposing direction from the belt/cable at the pivot point to apply continuous tension to the belt/cable as the pivot arm pivots. The locking mechanism is in communication with the pivot arm to secure the pivot arm in position, and the locking mechanism is adjustable.

Tensioning system with self-locking mechanism

Systems for moving a moveable drive module in a cross-process direction are disclosed. A system includes a moveable drive module including a drive roll and a translation drive motor capable of moving the moveable drive module in a cross-process direction. The system may optionally include a plurality of idler rolls, each configured to be associated with the drive roll when the moveable drive module is in an associated position. Optionally, the moveable drive module may further include an idler roll associated with the drive roll. Alternately, the system may further include a moveable idler module including an idler roll and a translation drive motor capable of moving the moveable idler module in a cross-process direction.

Moveable drive nip

An encoder idler roll includes an integral idler roll/encoder structure that forms an enclosed housing with a portion of the surface of the idler roll becoming the inner race for the encoder, as well as, the media encoding surface. Additionally, this integral idler/encoder configuration minimizes run out, improves tolerances between parts and stabilizes clearances between the idler roll and its support shaft.

Encoder idler roll

A method of adjusting the operation of printheads in a printing system with a moving sheet carrying device has been developed. The method includes identifying a first amount of sheet carrying device displacement and second amount of sheet carrying device displacement as the sheet carrying device carries a media sheet past first and second printheads, respectively, for imaging of a predetermined location of the media sheet. A time for operating the second printhead is adjusted based on a difference between the first sheet carrying device offset and the second sheet carrying device offset to provide color registration between ink drops of the first printhead and second printhead on the media sheet.

System and method for dynamic stretch reflex printing

Methods and devices detect a first lateral measure of an edge of a belt loop supported by rollers within an apparatus using a first sensor to find an amount of misalignment of the edge of the belt loop relative to a known alignment position. The first sensor is positioned at a first location within the apparatus. The methods and devices also detect a second lateral measure of the edge of the belt loop within the apparatus relative to the known alignment position using a second sensor. The second sensor is positioned at a second location within the apparatus that is different than the first location. The methods and devices use a processor to determine the non-linear shape of the edge of the belt loop based on the second lateral measure of the edge of the belt loop detected by the second sensor. The methods and devices correct the amount of misalignment detected by the first sensor based on the non-linear shape of the edge of the belt loop to generate a corrected misalignment value, using the processor. Further, the method and devices adjust the current lateral position of the belt loop within the apparatus relative to the known alignment position based on the corrected misalignment value using a belt tracking actuator that is operatively connected to the processor.

Belt tracking using two edge sensors

An apparatus and method for transporting substrate media including a nip assembly having a drive wheel operably connected to a drive mechanism for rotating the drive wheel, and an idler member disposed adjacent the drive wheel. The idler wheel and drive wheel forming a nip. The drive wheel and idler wheel are displaceable from each other to form a nip gap therebetween. A nip force generator is operably connected to the nip assembly. The nip force generator develops a first nip force upon entry of the substrate media into the nip and formation of the nip gap and develops a second nip force subsequent to the first nip force. The second nip force is greater than the first nip force.

Variable force nip assembly

A sheet transport system and method including a first drive module including a frame. A first drive wheel is rotatably disposed on the frame. A first drive motor is operably connected to the first drive wheel and disposed on the frame. The first drive module is pivotally secured to a structure. A first idler wheel corresponds to the first drive wheel. An actuator is operably engagable with the first drive module. The actuator is configured to move the first drive module to cause the first drive wheel to move between an open position and a closed position. The first drive wheel is configured to propel a sheet in the closed position and to not propel a sheet in the open position.

Sheet transport system with modular NIP release system

A print device for registering a printable medium during a duplex printing process. The print device includes a controller, at least one leading edge sensor operably connected to the controller, the at least one leading edge sensor configured to detect a leading edge of a printable medium having a first and a second side when the first side is facing away from the at least one leading edge sensor, a coarse registration sensor operably connected to the controller, the coarse registration sensor configured to detect a leading edge of the printable medium when the second side of the printable medium is facing away from the at least one leading edge sensor, and at least one trail edge sensor operably connected to the controller, the at least one trail edge sensor configured to detect a trailing edge of the printable medium.

Movable trail edge sensor for duplex registration

A printable media hold-down system includes a print head array, a transport surface positioned adjacent to the print head array which transports a printable medium past the print head array in a location where the print head array may apply ink to the printable medium, and a vacuum system that creates vacuum pressure that holds the printable medium to the transport surface, the vacuum system having at least one adjustable baffle configured to move in a cross process direction and change a dimension of the vacuum system based on a dimension of the printable medium.

Media hold-down system having cross process chambering

An apparatus and method for transporting substrate of media including a nip assembly having a drive wheel operably connected to a drive mechanism for rotating the drive wheel and an idler wheel disposed adjacent the drive wheel. The drive wheel and idler wheel forming a nip therebetween. The drive wheel and idler wheel being displaced from each other forming a nip gap, wherein the nip gap is present absent the presence of the substrate media in the nip.

Substrate media transport system with spaced nip

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a printmaking device, a method, and a system for calibrating sensors. The printmaking device includes a calibration system with a media path, a registration device, and at least one edge sensor. The registration device having a pair of nips connected by a lateral carriage and a calibration member disposed traversely and affixed to the lateral carriage. The lateral carriage is configured to move laterally relative to the media path. The at least one edge sensor may be configured to determine an extent of movement of a first portion of the calibration member. The registration device calibrates the at least one edge sensor by: moving the lateral carriage a predetermined distance; determining the extent of movement of the first portion of the calibration member; and comparing the predetermined distance and the extent of movement so as to determine the calibration factor.

Edge sensor calibration for printmaking devices

A printing system and method is provided. The printing system includes one or more printing system modules, at least one media sheet path interfacing the printing system modules, and a job scheduler for executing one or more printing system print jobs. The job scheduler routes a media sheet to one or more printing system modules for preshrinking or preenlarging without marking and subsequently routes the preshrunk or preenlarged media sheet to one or more printing system modules for marking. The method of printing includes generating a print job to be printed using one or more printing system modules. Print jobs requiring two or more printing system modules for marking are executed by routing a media sheet to one or more printing system modules for preshrinking or preenlarging without marking, and subsequently routing the preshrunk or preenlarged media sheet to the one or more printing modules for marking.

Printing system

An imaging device for producing multicolor images from image data containing data representing an image of a first color and an image of a second color to be registered relative to the image of the first color onto a substrate by transferring toner of the first and second colors to the substrate is provided. The imaging device includes a first imager, a second imager, a photoreceptor belt, a plurality of rollers mounted to a frame of the imaging device, an angular position sensor, an image data source and a controller. The plurality of rollers define a process path along which the photoreceptor belt is driven past the first and second imagers in a process direction. The plurality of rollers includes a drive roller that exhibits an eccentricity for which a formula relating angular position as a function of the phase angle of the drive roller to eccentricity is known. The angular position sensor detects the phase angle of the drive roller. The image data source generates image data that includes a line to be printed in the first color and in the second color. The controller is coupled to receive signals from the angular position sensor, ROS imager and image data source and is configured to drive the second imager to generate an optical output. The controller includes memory and a processor. The memory stores the formula relating angular position as a function of the phase angle of the drive roller to eccentricity. The processor calculates an appropriate time delay for starting the generation of the optical output of the second imager for printing the line to be printed in the first color and in the second color based on the time of the starting of the optical output by the ROS imager to print to print that line, the signal received from the angular position sensor, and the formula relating angular position as a function of the phase angle of the drive roller to eccentricity.

Printer using hybrid reflex writing to color register an image

A sheet registration system, especially for printers, with a lower cost and lower mass-movement system for both sheet deskewing and transverse registration repositioning of the sheets in the same integral system, especially for higher speed printing. Only one main drive motor can drive both of the two spaced apart sheet feeding nips, together with a lower power, lower mass, deskewing differential drive system for providing the relative differential angular movement of the two spaced sheet feeding nips to achieve the desired amount of sheet deskewing movement, without interrupting the forward feeding movement of the sheet. Also disclosed are extensive further reductions in the component mass of the lateral translation movement for lateral sheet registration.

Printer sheet lateral registration and deskewing system

A sheet registration system, especially for printers, with a lower cost and lower mass system for sheets deskewing, and optionally also compatibly providing transverse registration repositioning of the sheets. Mechanisms are disclosed which need only one main drive motor to drive both of the two spaced apart sheet feeding nips, together with a much lower power, and lower cost, deskewing differential drive system for providing the relative differential angular movement of the two spaced sheet feeding nips to achieve the desired amount of sheet deskewing movement, without interrupting the forward feeding movement of the sheet.

Growing community of inventors

West Milford, NJ, United States of America

Matthew Dondiego