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:
Sep. 04, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 14, 2000
Martin Christopher Klement, Lexington, KY (US);
Gregory Lawrence Ream, Lexington, KY (US);
John Parker Richey, Lexington, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
Abstract
A method of aligning print images of an electrophotographic machine on a print medium includes reflecting a first laser beam off of a first rotating reflector to thereby scan the first laser beam across a first photoconductive drum to produce a first scan line in a scan direction. The rotation of the first reflector is cyclically repeated to thereby produce a plurality of substantially parallel first scan lines on the first photoconductive drum. A respective line of first toner is applied to each of the first scan lines. A second laser beam is reflected off of a second rotating reflector to thereby scan the second laser beam across a second photoconductive drum to produce a second scan line in the scan direction. The rotation of the second reflector is cyclically repeated to thereby produce a plurality of substantially parallel second scan lines on the second photoconductive drum. A respective line of second toner is applied to each of the second scan lines. A moving toner transfer medium contacts each of the first photoconductive drum and the second photoconductive drum. Each line of first toner is transferred from the first photoconductive drum to the toner transfer medium. Each line of second toner is transferred from the second photoconductive drum to the toner transfer medium such that the lines of second toner are substantially interspersed with the lines of first toner on the toner transfer medium. The lines of first toner and the lines of second toner are transferred from the toner transfer medium to the print medium. A desired phase difference between the rotation of the first reflector and the rotation of the second reflector is determined. The desired phase difference is such that at least one line of first toner is substantially aligned in a process direction with a corresponding line of second toner on the toner transfer medium. The process direction is substantially perpendicular to the scan direction. A speed of the rotation of the first reflector and/or the second reflector is temporarily changed to thereby achieve the desired phase difference therebetween.