The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1999
Nancy Cernusak, Eagle, ID (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Ft. Collins, CO (US);
Abstract
Printing on a large number of units of relatively narrow media accelerates wear on a photoconductor in an electrophotographic imaging device, such as an electrophotographic printer. The accelerated wear results from movement of a cleaning blade over a surface of the photoconductor on regions of the photoconductor outside a width of the media where toner is not available as a lubricant. The accelerated wear also results from exposure of the surface of the photoconductor on regions of the photoconductor outside the width of the media to the electric fields supplied by a transfer roller. The accelerated wear can cause excessive background development on the photoconductor. Background development toner not transferred to the media is collected in the waste hopper. Excessive background development can lead to leakage of toner from the waste hopper into the electrophotographic printer. By tracking the width of the media used, the electrophotographic printer can warn the user when photoconductor wear out may result in toner leakage from the waste hopper.