Am International Incorporated

Microtek Industries, Inc.

Vincent T Kubert

Mark F Duchesne

Matthew J Olenski

Ronald S Smith

Dinesh G Punater

Richard A Gaspar

Paul V Sadwick

The lower ends of alignment bearing shafts of an upper die member of a tape automated bonding apparatus are modified to include tapered alignment pins, each having a tapered surface that is complementary to the tapered interior end of the bore of a respective bushing on a lower die member. The alignment pin serves to guide its associated alignment shaft and a ball bearing sleeve carried thereby into the bushing. In addition, a first set of rails is installed directly beneath a die member actuator, and a second set of rails is installed on the upper die member. The second set of rails slide upon the first set of rails, so that the upper die member effectively mechanically floats on the first set of rails. The lower die member is affixed to a translatable platen, which is driven to an end stop position at the part excision station. Then, the upper die member is lowered onto the lower die member, so that the alignment pins contact the bores in the bushings on the lower die member. Any axial misalignment of the alignment shafts and the bushings is removed as the tapered surfaces of the alignment pins discs are translated by a horizontal force imparted by the bushings. As a result, the upper die member is horizontally aligned with the lower die member, so that the ball bearing cages automatically enter into the bores of the bushings on the lower die member.

Tapered alignment guide arrangement for self aligning part excision die

A large scale LED exposure array and system for printers, and unique methods of inputting data to and operating such an array, are disclosed. The array can be loaded and refreshed with data information at rates compatible with high speed printing, and forms part of an electronic image forming and handling system which can load an refresh an exposure array at variable speeds of at least 100 to 300 ft./min. The system includes compensation for differences in illuminating capability of individual LEDs in a large array, by introducing modifications in LED on-time which are centered with respect to the incremental area of the photoreceptor on which a pixel is to be formed, and to compensate for changes in pixel exposure time with increase in speed of the photoreceptor. Also disclosed are an LED configuration which can emit high energy in a controlled pattern to give a desired pixel spot on a photoreceptor, and an arrangement for mounting the array to maintain each light emitting spot in focus on the photoreceptor surface, although a wide array is employed.

Imaging diode array and system

A press, and a process of printing a combination of fixed and variable data on such press, wherein printed images being manufactured are created by direct digital driving of an imaging device at normal press speed, optionally followed by one or more processing operations in the case of business forms or the like, as required for a particular job. The content of the printed images can be changed without stopping the press. The press and process uses novel electrostatic printing engines having a direct digital imaging system which can create latent electrostatic images at normal press speeds, including the ability to accommodate substantial speed variations. Together with these printing engines, an electronic imaging system is provided in which fixed (or base) image data and variable image data are combined electronically to drive a single exposure system. Repetitive latent images are formed and developed using a high resolution liquid toner, and the resultant visible image is transferred and fixed to a wide variety of materials, usually in a continuous web. The photoreceptor surface on the drum, on which the images are formed and developed, is also cleaned and thoroughly dried each revolution. The press also has a novel fuser/dryer in which the developer carrier liquid is vaporized from the drum and treated through a catalytic converter to control emissions from the press. Heat from the catalytic treatment of the volatile carrier liquid is utilized as a heat source for air used in the fuser/dryer, thus providing a recuperative system.

Printing press and method

A large scale LED exposure array and system for printers, and unique methods of inputting data to and operating such an array, is disclosed. The array can be loaded and refreshed with data information at rates compatible with high speed printing, and forms part of an electronic image forming and handling system which can load and refresh an exposure array at variable speeds of at least 100 to 300 ft./min. The system includes compensation for differences in illuminating capability of individual LEDs in a large array, by introducing modifications in LED on-time which are centered with respect to the incremental area of the photoreceptor on which a pixel is to be formed, and to compensate for changes in pixel exposure time with increase in speed of the photoreceptor. Also disclosed are an LED configuration which can emit high energy in a controlled pattern to give a desired pixel spot on a photoreceptor, and an arrangement for mounting the array to maintain each light emitting spot in focus on the photoreceptor surface, although a wide array is employed.

A transfer mechanism and method are provided for utilization in a high speed electrophotographic printing process of the type wherein the electrophotoconductive cylinder on which the image is formed travels at a peripheral speed of at least 100 ft./min. Transfer of the image is made to a continuous web of paper or the like travelling synchronously with the cylinder surface speed. A transfer corona focuses a narrow band of ions proximate the cylinder-web interface to attract at least 95% of the solids, toner particles from the cylinder to the travelling web. The charge on the transfer corona exceeds the charge on the image portions of the rotating cylinder by at least about 5,000 volts.

Carrier web transfer device and method for electrophotographic printing

A press, and a process of printing a combination of fixed and variable data on such press, wherein printed images are created by direct digital driving of an imaging device at normal press speed, optionally followed by one or more processing operations in the case of business forms. The content or arrangement of the printed images can be changed without stopping the press. The press and process use one or more novel electrostatic printing engines having a direct digital imaging system which can create latent electrostatic images at normal press speeds, including the ability to accommodate substantial speed variations. Together with these printing engines, an electronic imaging system is provided in which fixed (or base) image data and variable image data are combined electronically to drive a single exposure system. Repetitive latent images are formed and developed using a liquid toner, and the resultant visible image is transferred and fixed to a variety of materials, in a continuous web. The photoreceptor surface on the drum, on which the images are formed and developed, is also cleaned and thoroughly dried each revolution. Make ready time between successive printing jobs can be significantly reduced. The press also has a novel fuser/dryer in which the developer carrier liquid is vaporized from the drum and treated through a catalytic converter to control emissions from the press. Heat from the catalytic treatment of the volatile carrier liquid is utilized as a heat source for air used in the fuser/dryer, thus providing a recuperative system.

A developer electrode and reverse roller assembly are provided for use in conjunction with the rotatable print cylinder of a high speed electrophotographic printing press. The normal tendency of toner particles to stick to the developer electrode is inhibited due to the velocity by which toner dispersion is fed to the developer electrode. A pair of slots formed in the electrode face ensure that uniform amount and constituency of the dispersion are supplied to the print cylinder. Both the developer electrode and reverse roller assembly are pivotally mounted adjacent the cylinder with the reverse roller comprising a location sensor to sense reverse roller position and to stop the print cylinder when the reverse roller is not in proper position.

Growing community of inventors

Melbourne, FL, United States of America

Vincent T Kubert