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. 10, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 01, 2000
Matthias H. Regelsberger, Rochester, NY (US);
James A. Zimmer, Jr., Rochester, NY (US);
George R. Walgrove, Rochester, NY (US);
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Heidelberg, DE;
Abstract
The present invention provides an electrophotographic (EP) image-forming machine and related method having activation of a charger cleaner in a corona charger after an arcing fault. The corona charger has corona wires connected to a high voltage potential supply, preferably providing a voltage in the range of about 5 to 11 kva or in the range of about 13,000 to 22,000 volts peak-to-peak. A corona voltage detection circuit is connected to measure current changes in the high voltage potential supply. A grid has a preselected electric potential to control the charge. The grid may be grounded, but preferably is connected to a power supply providing a voltage in the range of about 300 to 900 volts. A grid voltage detection circuit is connected to measure current changes in the power supply. The voltage detection circuits provide a voltage signal to a microprocessor. When arcing occurs, the microprocessor cycles the EP image-forming machine into a standby mode. The charger cleaning apparatus is activated to clean the charger. When the cleaning is completed, the EP image-forming machine returns to normal operation. In a further aspect of the present invention, the image-forming process stops when arcing occurs. The charger is cleaned. Any prints affected by the arcing are disposed. The image-forming process restarts at the image frame where the arc occurred.