Eastman-kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Richard George Allen

Hwai-Tzuu Tai

Thomas Nathaniel Tombs

Yee S Ng

Matthias Hermann Regelsberger

Thomas K Hilbert

Thomas Allen Henderson

Joseph John Furno

Dinesh Tyagi

Muhammed Aslam

Peter S Alexandrovich

Joseph A Pavlisko

Chung-Hui Kuo

Jiann-Hsing Chen

Michael Thomas Dobbertin

Rodney Ray Bucks

Robert Arthur Lancaster

Kevin D Lofftus

John R Thompson

Diane Marie Herrick

Christopher Stephen Garcia

Frederick E Altrieth, Iii

Stacy M Munechika

Louise Granica

David McLaughlin Rakov

Scott Thomas Slattery

Timothy Gilbert Armstrong

Andrew J Mauer

William A Hameister

David R Brent

Robert S Rejewski

Paul A Hartley

Thomas T Stetz

Bradley A Twait

A print engine includes a printer module for printing image data in a plurality of different print modes, wherein each print mode has an associated line print time. A data interface receives image data and associated metadata for a print job from a pre-processing system, the metadata including print mode metadata. A digital memory stores a plurality of pulse timing functions, each pulse timing function corresponding to one of the line print times associated with the plurality of print modes. A metadata interpreter interprets the metadata and determines the print mode to be used to print the image data. A printer module controller controls the printer module to print the image data using the pulse timing function corresponding to the line print time associated with the print mode, wherein each light source is activated for a pulse count corresponding to a pixel code value of an associated image pixel.

Print engine with print-mode-dependent pulse timing functions

A color toner image with a metallic effect can be prepared by forming one or more latent images and developing them with metallic dry toner particles and color toner particles. The developed color toner image can be transferred to a receiver material, and fixed to provide a color toner image with a metallic effect. The metallic dry toner particles have a polymeric binder phase and non-conductive metal oxide particles dispersed therein. Before fixing, the metallic dry toner particle has a mean volume weighted diameter (D) 15-40 &#x3bc;m and the non-conductive metal oxide particles are present in an amount of at least 20-50 weight % based on total metallic dry toner particle weight. The ratio of the metallic dry toner particle Dto the average equivalent circular diameter (ECD) of the non-conductive metal oxide particles in the metallic dry toner particles is greater than 0.1 and up to and including 10.

Preparing color toner images with metallic effect

Correction data is produced for density errors in prints produced using a printer. While printing a test image, the periods of rotation of one or more rotatable imaging members arranged along a receiver feed path in the printer are measured using a period sensor. The printed test image is measured in the cross-track direction and a one dimensional map of the period sensors is determined. A reproduction error signal representing deviation from aim density is determined. The variations from the data at measured periods in one or both directions are used to produce a correction signal.

Compensating for printing non-uniformities using a one dimensional map

A method is provided of compensating for periodic non-uniformity in an electrophotographic printer with a rotatable imaging component, and a runout sensor for measuring the distance between a first reference point and the surface of the rotatable imaging component along a first reference axis. An image signal representing an image to be produced on a receiving member by the printer is received. The rotatable imaging component is rotated. While the rotatable imaging component is rotating, the distance for the rotatable component is measured using the runout sensor. A correction value corresponding to the measured distance is automatically determined using a processor. The image data corresponding to the measured distance are automatically adjusted with the correction value using the processor. Toner corresponding to the adjusted image data is deposited on the receiver using the rotatable imaging component.

Compensating for periodic nonuniformity in electrophotographic printer

A method is provided of determining the cause of artifacts in images produced by an electrophotographic (EP) printer. A reference image is printed and artifacts in it are detected. After printing normal images, a test image is printed and artifacts in it are detected. If a detected artifact in the test image does not correspond to a detected artifact in the reference image, a characteristic frequency spectrum of the artifact in the test image is determined. Run-out on rotatable imaging components is measured, and a characteristic frequency spectrum of each is determined. The test image spectrum is compared to each component spectrum to identify which component is causing the artifact.

Determining the cause of printer image artifacts

An system and related method for maintaining print quality based on development potential measurements that include comparing the current process measurements to a toner concentration related set-point; calculating a quality adjustment range based on current process measurements and the toner concentration related set-point, or a derivative thereof, indicative of print quality; and adjusting current process conditions related to the current process measurements to trend towards a new set point within the quality adjustment range so that a rate of change is proportional to the difference between the current process measurements and the set point.

Print quality maintenance method and system

Preventing the imaging forming process of an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus having a plurality of imaging modules in tandem relative to a receiver transport belt moveable along a transport path from becoming contaminated with fuser release oil. A substantially uniform layer of the pigmented marking particles from the development subsystem of the image forming process is deposited onto the photoconductive member of the image forming process during any non-imaging cycles of the process, including cycle down, non-imaging skip frames, or recovery from a receiver jam. The substantially uniform layer of pigmented marking particles acts as a barrier to block fuser release oil from the photoconductive member and as a vehicle to carry away contaminating fuser release oil.

Fuser oil contamination prevention and clean-up method

An automatic process of setting control set-points, control rates, calibrations, timing parameters and maximum density levels for color modules within a color print engine by utilizing addressable settings of multiple configurable parameters for each color module. The parameters can be independently controlled and maintained. Each color module maintains a list of parameters by storing the parametric values in a non-volatile memory. At initialization, the parameters for each module are read out of the non-volatile memory to set the correct settings for the specific color module.

Initialization method for establishing process control parameters

In an electrographic reproduction apparatus having a media transport mechanism for transporting media into operative association with a plurality of different color electrographic process modules, a mechanism for providing image density control signals to the logic and control unit. At least one densitometer is provided for sensing image density control patches on the media transport mechanism and producing signals representative of the density of the such image for the logic and control unit. The electrographic process modules are enabled to generate/print respectively uniform image density control patches periodically on the media transport mechanism where the patches can be read by the densitometer for providing signals to the logic and control unit for controlling print control parameters to maintain correct image density, the patches being generated/printed, one for each color, during each revolution of the media transport mechanism, in the same respective interframe following the seam on the media transport mechanism.

Formation of uniform density patches in an electrographic reproduction apparatus for process control

An image-forming machine has a development station with a dusting control system that generates a flow barrier adjacent to a development region.

Image-forming machine having a development station with a dusting control system

A method and apparatus for a single densitometer design that is used for all colors within multiple color image processing system. The preferred embodiment employs an LED having a light adjustment mechanism for controlling the amount of light received by a light detector in the densitometer. The coarse light adjustment is provided through a variable aperture. Fine light adjustment is accomplished through controlling the current through the LED, either by a potentiometer or through an automated process. Preferably, each of the LEDs is selected by wavelength to maximize the absorption by the colorant yielding light roughly complimentary to the colorant. The adjustment circuit provides advantage in color printing systems by allowing duplicate versions of the same densitometer circuit to yield similar voltage outputs for different colorants, thereby compensating for different absorption characteristics and light output of different colored LEDs.

Densitometer with improved accuracy for use in color image processing apparatus

A printer for printing color toner images on a receiver member of any of a variety of textures. The printer has a number of tandemly arranged electrophotographic image-forming modules respectively including a plurality of imaging subsystems to form a colored toner image transferred to a receiver member, the transfer of toner images from each of the modules forming a color print of the receiver member which is fused to form a desired color print. The image quality of the color print is produced by control of nonoperational co-optimization of fusing parameters and imaging subsystem parameters enabling printing on the variety of textures of receiver member.

Electrophotographic apparatus and method for using textured receivers

The invention relates generally to apparatus for electrostatic image development and, in particular, apparatus that implement a magnetic brush with a drum photoconductor. According to an aspect of the invention, a method and apparatus for developing an electrostatic image are provided implementing a drum photoconductor and a magnetic brush contacting the drum photoconductor. The magnetic brush includes a mixture of toner and hard magnetic carriers.

Electrostatic image developing method and apparatus using a drum photoconductor and hard magnetic carriers

In an electrostatographic recording apparatus and method of forming images on a charge retentive surface such as a photoconductive member using a single writer source, the surface is uniformly charged by a corona charger to a predetermined voltage potential level. An image frame is then exposed on a pixel by pixel basis with varying amounts of exposure by the source for at least some pixels to form a tri-state type of latent image on the image frame including a charged area developable (CAD) latent image having at least some exposed pixels at various different sub-levels of exposure within the CAD latent image, a discharged-area developable (DAD) latent image having at least some exposed pixels at various different sub-levels of exposure within said discharged area developable image, and a background area The DAD and CAD latent images are then developed with toners of two different colors by two different developer sources. A second image frame of the uniformly charged surface is also exposed on a pixel by pixel basis with varying amounts of exposure by the source for at least some pixels to form a monochrome latent image wherein at least some exposed pixels are exposed at various different levels of exposure. The monochrome latent image is developed using one of the developer sources and this source is biased differently on the monochrome exposure made from the bias used in the two-color exposure mode. Data representing multicolor pixels are analyzed in accordance with criteria and a determination is made as to whether the pixel is to be recorded in black or another color in the tri-state recording mode.

Multi-bit rendering with single color and two-color capability

A method and apparatus for processing image data representing plural colors for output to a color display device such as a printer or soft display. A block of digital image data signals is generated representing rasterized image data of at least two colors. The block of digital image data is compressed and stored in a compressed form. The compressed image data is then expanded losslessly and output to a color display device.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Richard George Allen