Eastman-kodak Company

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Richard G Luther

Matthias Hermann Regelsberger

Jeffrey Allan Pitas

Alan Earl Rapkin

Michael Thomas Dobbertin

Wayne W Forrest

Morris A Karski

Steven P Bailey

James N Alkins

Robert D LeRoy

Jean Marie Trost

Vidanand Chand

Anton Suk

A focus adjustment mechanism for adjusting a focus position of a printhead includes a rotatable pin that is rotatable around a pin axis. The rotatable pin includes a cam section located having a surface whose radial distance from the pin axis varies around its perimeter, and a gripping feature. An adjustment plate includes a gripping feature and is adapted to fit over and engage with the gripping feature of the rotatable pin such that the adjustment plate rotates together with the rotatable pin. A fastener fastens the adjustment plate to a support structure when the adjustment plate is positioned in a desired orientation. The printhead includes a frame feature which is pulled firmly against the cam section of the rotatable pin such that as the rotatable pin is rotated the frame feature rides on the surface of the cam section thereby adjusting the focus position of the printhead.

Printhead focus adjustment mechanism including an eccentric pin

A method for aligning a photoconductor cartridge () in an electrophotographic device includes providing at least two holes in a first end of the cartridge. At least two pins () are provided in a frame of the electrophotographic device which mate with the holes in the first end of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted in the electrophotographic device. A drive mechanism contacts a spherical bearing of a photoconductor of the cartridge and drives a pair of drive dogs. One drive dog is affixed to a spline on the drive mechanism and a second drive dog is affixed to the spherical bearing. At least one hole is provided in a second end of the cartridge. At least one pin is provided in a frame of the electrophotographic device which mate with the hole in the second end of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted in the electrophotographic device.

Method of aligning a photoconductor cartridge

A system for in situ replacement of a cartridge for an electrophotographic printer includes a photoreceptive member in the cartridge; a retractable shield enclosing the photoreceptive member; and a retraction mechanism in the cartridge for retracting the retractable shield when the cartridge is inserted into the printer.

Apparatus for preventing damage to a photoconductor

An electrophotographic printer includes a rotatable photoreceptor adapted to receive dry toner and a rotatable toning member arranged with respect to the photoreceptor to supply toner thereto. A seal includes a complaint contact member and a non-contact member. The contact member is arranged in mechanical contact with the photoreceptor. The non-contact member is spaced apart from the surface of the toning member by a selected non-zero distance, the selected distance being greater than zero. This reduces dusting.

Electrophotographic printer with dust seal

An in situ replacement of a cartridge () for an electrophotographic printer includes providing a rigid, cylindrical photoreceptive member () enclosed in a housing (), wherein the housing comprises a removable shield (); inserting the housing and photo receptive member into the printer; and removing the shield.

Method for preventing damage to a photoconductor

An in situ replacement cartridge () for an electrophotographic printer includes a rigid, cylindrical photoreceptive member (); a housing () for retaining and attaching the photoreceptive member to the printer; and a removable shield () surrounding the photoreceptive member.

Preventing damage to a photoconductor

A drive belt tensioning method and assembly using a dual spring tensioner. A pulley from a drive belt/pulley system is mounted onto a pivot arm having a pivot point. A tensioner spring mounts between the machine frame and the pivot arm, such that is causes rotation of the pivot arm about the pivot point in the opposite direction that the belt/pulley system causes rotation about the pivot point. A stop is used to keep the pivot arm in the position of tensioner spring/belt/pulley system equilibrium. This stop is mounted to the machine frame after the pivot arm equilibrium is reached. A retainer spring mounts between the machine frame and the pivot arm such that when in tension it causes a rotational force about the pivot point in the same direction that the tensioner spring causes a rotational force about the pivot point.

Dual spring tensioner

This is a passively energized floating guide for a parked head scanner having a scanning glass slit. This floating guide applies pressure to the original papers crossing the scanning glass slit in order to wipe the scanning glass slit, and keep it free from contamination. The floating guide comprises a wiper bar which is pivotally mounted above the scanning glass slit such that it extends from end to end of the scanning glass slit, and it rests on the scanning glass slit when at rest. The weight and pivot point for the wiper bar are chosen such that the force of the original paper rotates the wiper bar and causes the wiper bar to press down on the original as it passes between the wiper bar and the scanning glass slit with sufficient force to clean the glass, but not enough force to jam the paper. This is the case even for lightweight papers. After the paper has passed, the wiper bar pivots back to its initial position.

Passively energized floating guide

A sheet path assembly having two mating components which are pivotally attached to one another so that they may be opened in the case of a sheet jam. One of the mating assemblies is a turnover component, which is torsionally weak about an axis in the direction of the sheet path. This is done so that the turnover component will conform to the mating component when they close. A stiffening member is mounted to the turnover component, such that when the stiffening member is engaged, the turnover component is then torsionally stiff. When the turnover component is conformed to the mating assembly, the stiffening member is engaged, locking the turnover component into the conforming position.

Torque soft sheet path assembly with stiffening member

A sheet registration mechanism for aligning a sheet moving along a substantially planar transport path relative to such transport path in a plurality of orthogonal directions (e.g., the cross-track and in-track directions and remove skew). The mechanism comprises a first roller assembly having a first urging roller mounted for rotation about an axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the transport path, and substantially perpendicular to the direction of sheet travel along the transport path. A second roller assembly has a second urging roller mounted for rotation about an axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the transport path, and substantially perpendicular to the direction of sheet travel along the transport path. A third roller assembly has a third urging roller mounted for rotation about an axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the transport path, and substantially perpendicular to the direction of sheet travel along the transport path. The third urging roller is also movable along its axis of rotation in a direction transverse to the transport path. A control, operatively associated respectively with the first, second and third roller assemblies, selectively controls rotation of the first and second urging rollers to align a moving sheet in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the transport path, and selectively controls rotation of the third urging roller and transverse movement of the third urging roller to respectively align such moving sheet in the direction of travel along the transport path and in the direction transverse to the transport path.

Sheet registration mechanism

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus wherein a latent image charge pattern is formed on a moving dielectric member web and developed with pigmented marking particles to form a transferable developed image on the dielectric member web, an improved cleaning assembly for removing residual marking particles and debris from the dielectric member web. The improved cleaning assembly comprises a cleaning brush supported in a housing. The housing is located to position the peripheral surface of the cleaning brush in cleaning engagement with the dielectric member web, and a vacuum is established within the housing. A relatively stiff cleaning blade is supported in engagement with the dielectric member web at a predetermined positional orientation under a sufficient loading so as to cause the dielectric member web to be substantially deflected by the blade.

Growing community of inventors

Hamlin, NY, United States of America

Richard G Luther