Eastman-kodak Company

Scitex Digital Printing, Inc.

Sven Sonnenberg

Donald Saul Rimai

Martin Potucek

Francisco Luiz Ziegelmuller

Dennis R Kamp

Theodore H Morse

Kent A Randall

David D Almeter

Homer D Durst

A toner mass sensor includes a piezoelectric crystal having a resonant frequency, an electrode on a first face of the crystal, an electrically conductive lead connecting the first face of the crystal to an electrical contact point in the vicinity of a second side of the crystal, and a casing closed at one end by the crystal with the first face of the crystal allowed to contact developer outside of the closed casing through the opening of the casing. The casing and crystal defines an interior which is sealed from developer in a development station, within which sealed interior the second face of the crystal is protected from contamination by developer. The electrode is wrapped around the edge of the crystal to be accessible from the second side of the crystal, and the electrode is a metal; preferably aluminum. The interior of the casing is closed by a base member which carries an electrical circuit. The casing is cylindrical, and an elastomeric, electrical insulator gasket around the crystal seals the interior of the casing to inhibit contamination of the interior of the casing by developer.

Piezoelectric sensor for in-situ monitoring of electrostatographic

First and second toner images are created on a primary image member. The first toner image is transferred to an intermediate image member and then transferred back to the primary image member to combine the two images. Preferably, the intermediate image member is a light roller that is inarticulatable and maintained in contact with the primary image member which is preferably an endless belt with sufficient wrap to drive the intermediate image member with low pressure in the contact nip. Cleaning is effected by transferring residual toner back to an empty portion of the primary image member from where it may be cleaned off by a primary image member cleaning station. Intrack registration of the images is maintained by adjusting the time between flashes in creating the two images.

Method and apparatus for forming combined toner images

A piezoelectric toner mass sensor to be positioned adjacent to a toner applicator in an electrostatographic recording apparatus. The piezoelectric sensor has a circular central crystal having its front and rear surfaces metallized, the two metallized surfaces being concentric with one another. The front surface of the sensor directed toward the toner applicator is smaller than the rear surface. Reducing the area of metallization on the piezoelectric toner mass sensor greatly increases sensitivity of the device. In addition, limiting the development area on the sensor facilitates the cleaning of the piezoelectric element and facilitates the mounting of the sensor in a suitable holder.

Reduction in metallization of a piezoelectric sensor for a xerographic

The present invention constitutes in an ink jet printing apparatus, an improved ink replenishment system. An ink supply housing of the improved ink replenishment system includes a pair of opposed side walls having a plurality of attachments spaced in respective opposing vertical columns and detachable detents coupled to one of the attachments. An attachable ink supply conduit is associated an associated ink supply module includes a container of ink having an ink egress constructed to attach to the conduit, and a housing having bottom and side wall members supporting the container. The side walls have a vertical edge with a plurality of removable sections located in spaced relations corresponding to the column spacing of the attachments and sized to correspond to the detents. Only an ink supply module having proper sections removed can be moved into the housing to an extent sufficient for its egress to connect to the supply conduit.

Ink replenishment assemblies for ink jet printers

An apparatus for cleaning toner from a surface includes a scraper blade that removes toner particles from the surface. A storing container is provided for holding the removed toner particles. The toner particles are guided away from the surface by a guide member. The guide member is movable toward the storing container to move the removed toner particles to the storing container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removed toner particles are compacted by the guide member. A cleaning implement is utilized to remove toner particles from the compacting member.

Toner cleaning apparatus

Apparatus for removing toner particles from a film photoconductor used in copiers, printers, and other electrostatographic devices. A piezo film is wrapped around a pliable material which is positioned around a rigid tubular member. The ends of the piezo material are clamped to the tubular member by special clamps which allow the piezo film to expand and contract radially when excited by an alternating power source. The film is positioned against the inside of the photoconductor to impart an agitating or vibrating motion which accelerates and loosens toner particles from the other side of the film. A charged roller is spaced from the photoconductor and attracts the agitated toner to the roller for deposit in a collection hopper.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Sven Sonnenberg