Lexmark International, Inc.

Other

Stacy Marie Pargett

Paul Douglas Horrall

Harald Portig

Mark Andrew Omelchenko

Franklin Joseph Palumbo

Jennifer Marie Murphy

John Patrick Spicer

Michael David Maul

Donald Leo Elbert

Darin Michael Gettelfinger

Ronald Lloyd Roe

Jarrett Clark Gayne

Kerry Leland Embry

John Parker Richey

James Philip Harden

Alexander Johannes Geyling

Alexander D Meade

Peter Brown Pickett

Robert Leonard Burdick

Bryan Michael Blair

Kathryn Dowlen Mullins

Billy Joe Jones

Johnathan Lee Barnes

Adrian J Lee

William Hargis Barton

Charles Robert Dunn, Ii

A toner image transfer apparatus in a printer is provided. The toner image transfer apparatus comprises a transfer belt structure, a rotatable transfer rod and a transfer roll retraction mechanism. The transfer belt structure comprises a driven toner image transfer belt and a rotatable backup roll engaging an inner surface of the transfer belt. The rotatable transfer roll is adapted to define a nip with the belt and backup roll. The transfer roll retraction mechanism comprises motion transfer structure coupled to the transfer roll and drive apparatus associated with the motion transfer structure.

Retraction mechanism for a toner image transfer apparatus

A system and method reduces wear on an image-forming device. The image-forming device includes one or more toner cartridges, each having an associated PC drum and transport member to transport toner images or media. Each of the PC drums maintain contact with a surface of the transport member regardless of whether they are being used to form a toner image. A controller controls the rotation of the PC drums to rotate or not rotate while in contact with the surface of the transport member.

Methods and devices for reducing wear on a print cartridge

The present application is directed to cleaner units and methods for removing waste toner from a transfer member within an image forming device. The device may include a blade that is positioned against the transfer member to remove the waste toner. The blade directs the waste toner into a cleaner house where the waste toner is removed. The cleaner unit is positioned within the image forming device to prevent contact with the media sheets moving along the media path. The cleaner unit may also be positioned to utilize existing elements to facilitate the removal of the waste toner from the transfer member.

Cleaner units and methods for removing waste toner within an image forming device

The present application is directed to second transfer areas and methods of transfer toner images from an intermediate member to a media sheet. The second transfer area comprises a second transfer nip formed between a second transfer roller and a back-up roller. The media path moves through this nip with the toner images on the intermediate member being transferred to the media sheets. The amount of force applied by the second transfer roller affects the transferability of the toner images to the media sheet. Further, the intermediate member may contact the second transfer roller at soft nip and hard nip locations. The lengths of these nips may also affect the transferability of the toner images.

Second transfer area for an image forming device and methods of use

Drive train motor speed is varied in a manner that compensates for characteristic rotational velocity errors of the associated drive train, such as by modulating a drive train motor speed control signal at a modulation phase and amplitude derived from the characterized rotational velocity error. Characterization can be performed on a test system for each drive train of interest, and the compensation values thus obtained can be saved for later use by systems in which the characterized drive trains are used. Thus, a drive train used in a consumables cartridge for an electrophotographic printing (EP) system can be characterized and the corresponding data saved via a label or memory circuit that is affixed to the cartridge. Such data can be used by the EP system in which the cartridge is installed to more accurately control the velocity of the image forming process members driven by the cartridge's characterized drive train.

Method and apparatus for characterizing and compensating drive train rotational velocity errors

A method of moving a transfer member from a first image transfer position to a second non-image transfer position after transfer of a toner image. This method reduces toner and photoconductor drum degradation in image forming apparatuses.

Method for positioning transfer members within an image forming apparatus

A cleaning apparatus in a waste toner removal system of an image forming device includes a waste toner moving device that is movably mounted in a waste toner housing. The housing has an inlet where waste toner enters the housing. The toner moving device is movable between a first position and a second position to displace accumulated toner within the housing. The toner moving device is spring-biased toward the first position. A rotating actuator displaces the toner moving device from the first position to the second position to move the toner in the housing away from the inlet. The toner moving device is also self-cleaning via vibration and impact movements.

Methods and devices for moving waste toner within an image forming device

A drive roller having a polyurethane coating that has a coefficient of friction with respect to a belt effective to drive the belt over the operative life of the belt. The drive roller may be included in an image-forming device to drive a belt.

Polyurethane coatings and drive rollers including the same

An improved intermediate belt system (ITM module) is provided, which controls the lateral motion of the belt in the scan direction of an EP printer, without the use of edge reinforcements or other attachments added to the belt. The tracking system of this ITM module is passive, and maintains roll alignment/parallelism within a predetermined tolerance while also maintaining roll conicity-end flare to a predetermined maximum diametral variation over the roll to minimize the effect of external forces on the belt walk rate. The ITM module also provides angled tracking guides near the tension roll to control the lateral position of the belt; the position of these tracking guides is adjustable at time of manufacture to achieve the desired lateral belt position.

Method and apparatus for reducing lateral motion of a transfer belt of a laser printer

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Richmond, KY, United States of America

Stacy Marie Pargett