Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett-pakcard Company

Richard F Beaufort

Robin Pierce Yergenson

Paul R Spencer

Jerry Yeeming Chung

Harold B Noyes

Quintin T Phillips

K Trent Christensen

Bruce A Axten

Howard G Hooper

Chris A Storlie

Darrell L Cox

James M Sangroniz

David R Connolly

Robin P Yergensen

Examples disclosed herein relate to a non-conductive member including a surface defining a first hole to mate to a first pin of a terminal and a second hole to mate to a second pin of the terminal and a third pin of the terminal; and a protrusion extending from the surface.

Non-conductive member between incompatible power terminals

A component for an electrophotographic device having an intermediate transfer device includes a hopper configured for association with a toner cartridge. The hopper is configured to store residual toner collected from the intermediate transfer device. The hopper includes an opening configured to receive the residual toner.

Residual toner management in an electrophotographic device

Apparatus and methods for test printing are described for computer printer or other printers, including multi-pass engines or other engines. A test pattern may be printed on a non-consumable material preferably inside the printer and is made viewable by an onlooker either by the non-consumable being stationary and in view of a window/door, or moveable to the window/door after the test pattern is printed. Preferably, the test pattern is printed on an electrophotographic print engine intermediate transfer, so that printing quality produced by the entire width of the photoconductor and transfer member is diagnosed. By viewing the test pattern image, a user may see whether all toners or inks are printing properly, preferably whether all are printing without significant defects and are all aligned. Once the temporary test pattern is viewed or when a new print job is requested, the system cleans the test pattern off of the transfer member. The invented system preferably does not involve the use of any consumable paper or other sheet media, so that paper is saved, and, if the test pattern is small, toner or ink is also saved, compared to conventional full-page test pattern printing.

Visual check window for printing performance and/or toner status

A multiple media sheet stack selection mechanism for selectively presenting multiple media sheet stacks to the same sheet separation and feed mechanism. The multiple media stack selection mechanism includes a primary sheet holder and at least one secondary stack holder. In the first embodiment, the multiple media stack selection mechanism includes a rotatable feed arm mechanism for holding the second paper stack and for positioning the second paper stack for picking and advancement. In the second embodiment, the multiple media sheet stack selection mechanism includes a paper stack gripping device for holding a second paper stack and for positioning the second paper stack for picking and advancement. In both the first and second embodiment, the paper stacks are positioned at a near vertical angle. The near vertical angle provides additional advantages in that the gravity force assists in constantly urging the sheets toward the feed zone, and results in a greater feed reliability. In the third embodiment, the multiple stack selector includes two tray mechanisms that selectively position two separate stacks of paper to the same picking and advancement device by the use of a dual cam and associated cam follower arrangement.

Multiple media sheet stack selection mechanism

An apparatus for dispensing toner in an electrophotographic printing system includes a housing for containing a supply of toner and toner filled containers for replenishing the supply of toner. Toner is allowed to flow to a developer assembly in the electrophotographic printing system by removal of a housing toner seal. The bottom of the container is dimensioned so that it can be inserted through the opening in the top of the housing and the opening in the top of another substantially identical container. A toner dam seal is attached to the container to close the bottom opening. In the preferred embodiment, the toner dam seal includes a length of flexible material for use in removal of the toner dam seal. In an alternative embodiment, cutting blades are attached to the interior of the sidewalls of both the housing and the container for cutting the toner dam seal upon installation of the container into the housing or into a previously installed container.

Apparatus for dispensing toner in an electrophotographic printing system

Compensation for pixel aberrations in a laser printer is accomplished by altering pixels in accordance with pixel location. A projection of a scan line is skewed with respect to a line normal to the surface of an optical photoreceptor (OPR), which results in a change in the shape of projected pixels. Selected pixels are augmented in order to adjust their shape. The additional optical energy may be applied at the sub-pixel level so that a threshold of energy depletion on an optical photoreceptor (OPR) is not reached where image development would occur. Alternatively, the additional energy may be applied in a manner which provides additional development to simulate a pixel having a desired width across a scan line. The invention allows a scan line to be produced in which pixels across the scan line are made more uniform.

Adjustment of dot size for laser imagers

An apparatus for detecting a transfer medium (i.e., paper) accordion jam in a processing path of a laser printer comprises an accordion detection flag pivotally disposed near the processing path. In the event an accordion jam occurs to the transfer medium in the processing path, an accordioned portion of the transfer medium presses against the flag thereby forcing the flag to pivot for signaling the accordion jam. A preferred method for detecting an accordion jam comprises (a) storing a first time increment indicia indicative of a length of time elapsed for a leading and trailing edge of the transfer medium to pass a reference point in the processing path; (b) storing a second time indicia indicative of a point in time that the leading edge of the transfer medium forces the fuser sensor flag to activate the fuser sensor; (c) storing a third time increment indicia indicative of time elapsed since the second time indicia, measured at a point in time signaled, alternatively, by (i) the trailing edge of the transfer medium causing the fuser sensor flag to deactivate the fuser sensor, or (ii) in the event an accordion effect occurs to the transfer medium, an accordioned portion of the transfer medium forcing the accordion jam flag to deactivate the fuser sensor; and, (d) calculating a difference between the second and third time indicia, and in the event the difference is less than the first time indicia, signaling that an accordion jam has occurred.

Apparatus and method for sensing accordion jams in a laser printer

An apparatus for refilling an electrophotographic imaging system. A refill pack is constructed around a frame. A collapsible bag, which is permanently attached to the top of the frame, along with a removable seal, which is attached to the bottom of the frame, defines an internal volume that contains the developer particles. The refill pack attaches to a receiving area on the cartridge. A new cartridge includes a flexible cover attached over an opening in the receiving area. Once the refill pack is attached to the receiving area, the removable seal is removed. As the removable seal is removed, a cutting edge on the removable seal cuts the flexible cover, opening the cartridge. Removal of the removable seal also releases the developer particles from the internal volume, allowing them to enter the cartridge thereby refilling the cartridge. Additional refill packs may be added over the top of a spent refill pack. However, the receiving area of the cartridge allows a maximum number of refill packs.

Refillable toner cartridge

Paper processing equipment such as a laser printer uses a plurality of sensors to detect the presence of paper in the paper path of the equipment. In order to provide an appropriate response to different types of malfunctions, a determination of the type of malfunction is made, and in appropriate cases, an attempt is made to self-clear the malfunction. In the case of a paper size error resulting from long size sheets being provided without a corresponding software request, the printer senses a time delay resulting from paper passage of an initial sheet. Pick of a second sheet is delayed for a time period corresponding to long size sheet passage and picks of subsequent sheets are delayed only if the sensed time delay corresponds to the longer length. This paper length information is further used to provide information regarding proper discharge of sheets from the printer.

Selective ejection of sensed paper jams in single sheet paper processing

Paper processing equipment such as a laser printer uses a plurality of sensors to detect the presence of paper in the paper path of the equipment. In order to determine the nature of malfunctions indicated by presence or absence of paper at the sensors, data from the sensors is coordinated with information concerning the timing of the data. In one embodiment, a single data signal is used to provide information that a paper supply hopper is empty and that paper is present at an output of a paper sheet pick mechanism. Advantages include simpler operation and the provision of discrete display indicia for different types of malfunctions and paper out conditions.

Input paper sensor for single sheet paper processing equipment

An intuitive operator panel for machines is provided. A listing of possible functions on a transparent face is located adjacent to each multiple function control or display. A colored background viewable through the transparent face, reduces the readability of the items in the list. A moveable opaque field is located between the transparent face and colored background and increases their readability. The opaque field can be moved by the operator to highlight a desired function from the list. The desired function is highlighted in the list and the machine senses the opaque field's position to determine the function selected. Such a configuration reduces the visual clutter associated with function lists which accompany multiple function controls or displays.

Flexible, intuitive, operator for computer peripherals

A new and improved electrophotographic printer and method of operation wherein a disposable print cartridge is rotatably mounted within the printer housing and is operative to directly drive paper out of a paper stack within a paper cassette in the housing and into the active print area therein between the surface of a photoconductive drum and an adjacent transfer roller. The rotatable disposable print cartridge is constructed to include a plurality of paper pick up strips and idler rollers uniformly spaced at predetermined locations along the surface of the disposable print cartridge and operative to be directly driven into contact with paper during the paper pick transport and print modes of the printer. In the non-print mode and in preparation for picking and printing the next sheet, the disposable print cartridge is rotated clockwise while the stack of paper drops away from the cartridge surface to avoid contact with the print cartridge at this time. In the subsequent paper pick and print mode, the print cartridge is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction down into direct contact with the top sheet of paper in the rising paper stack in the input paper cassette for driving it into the print area. During this later motion, a drive roller operates against the paper surface to drive the paper between the photoconductive drum and an adjacent transfer roller for printing an image on the paper. Advantageously, the above print cartridge rotational motion eliminates the need for dry powder toner stirrers as well as paper pick rollers.

Rotatable print cartridge and method of operation for transporting print

A peripheral unit is provided with a control panel that includes a plurality of indicators, each indicator displaying to a user a state condition of the peripheral unit. The control panel also includes a user operable key. A 'state' circuit is responsive to a functional state of the peripheral unit to cause the state indicators to manifest a selected one of a set of state conditions. A controller is provided for initiating peripheral unit operations. A state logic machine is responsive to each manifested state of the set and user actuation of the key, to cause the controller to initiate a peripheral unit operations, that operation uniquely related to a state manifested by the indicators.

Peripheral unit control panel with smart key

A combination fusing and media direction control method and apparatus wherein a fuser roller is positioned adjacent to a pair of idler pressure rollers located at predetermined locations adjacent to the surface of the motor driven fuser roller which is operative to receive printed media from a photo-conductive drum within a printer housing. The printed media enters a location between the surface of the fuser roller and one of the idler pressure rollers where it then traverses an approximately 90.degree. contoured path around approximately one-quarter (1/4) of the surface area of the fuser roller where it then exits the fuser roller at the intersection of the fuser roller and the second idler pressure roller. From this point, the direction of media travel is maintained substantially in a horizontal direction until the time the media comes to rest in an output paper collection tray of the printer. A deflection baffle member is provided adjacent the location of the fuser roller and the second idler pressure roller to provide a slight vertical deflection of the fused media so as to maintain its direction of travel into the output paper collection tray substantially flat or horizontal, thereby maintaining the media in the substantially flat or horizontal position over the entire length of the time that the fused paper is being cooled after leaving the fuser roller. This operation in turn serves to minimize and substantially eliminate curl otherwise introduced into the printed media. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the above described media guide control is accomplished by the use of either a contoured drive belt or a contoured deflector plate used in combination with a single idler pressure roller.

Fuser method and apparatus for reducing media curl in

An electrical circuit board interconnection system having motherboard 13 and a plurality of option board assemblies 10. Each option board assembly 10 has circuit board 15 to which is attached male pin connector assembly 12 on one surface and a mating female connector assembly 11 on the other surface. Both connector assemblies are oriented with pins 17 and female receptacles 18 parallel to the surface of the boards 15. Ejector levers 14 attached to female connector 11 to bear against male pin housing 36 to assist in disconnection option boards 10 from each other and motherboard 13. Power transfer bus 42 and signal transfer bus 43 interconnect the male and female pin connection 12 and 11 of each circuit board 15 to facilitate the sequential interconnection of a plurality of option board assemblies 10 to motherboard 13.

Growing community of inventors

Boise, ID, United States of America

Richard F Beaufort