Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print media supply with a pair of opposite sides and a bottom for supporting a plurality of print media sheets. A paper feed assembly defines a media path through which the print media sheets travel. A sheet picker assembly includes a sheet picker positioned adjacent to one of the sides of the print media supply. The sheet picker is configured to move a picked sheet in a pick direction substantially parallel to the bottom from the print media supply into the print media path. A separator dam is positioned between the print media supply and the paper feed assembly. The separator dam includes a wall positioned at a transverse angle relative to the bottom. The separator dam includes at least one resistive strip or abutments on the wall. The resistive strip or abutment is positioned adjacent the side which is opposite the one side. The resistive strip or abutment has a resistance to paper movement which is greater than the first coefficient of friction.

Abstract: Charge generation layers comprise a type I polymorph of titanyl phthalocyanine prepared by pre-milling a type IV polymorph in a media mill. Dual layer photoconductors comprise the charge generation layer in combination with a substrate and a charge transport layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening material includes a first guide surface and a second guide surface opposite the first guide surface. Pin (20) for pivoting the second guide surface is included, this operating to pivot the second guide surface toward the first guide surface and away from the first guide surface. A spring (22) for biasing the second guide surface toward the first guide surface is also included, with a variable rate characteristic resulting from contact of the spring with a post (34). The variable rate characteristic allows the second guide surface to pivot away from the first guide surface in proportion to a rigidity of the material to be straightened. Material of varying rigidities is passed between the first guide surface and the second guide surface and the apparatus straightens the material for subsequent processing.

Abstract: Wet-rub resistant ink compositions are described and the ink compositions have a binder material or binder composition which may be prepared from monomeric precursors which include vinyl halides, acrylates, alkylol amides and urethanes.

Abstract: A job offset assembly to separate into multiple stacks the output from a copier, printer or the like, includes a platform upon which a plurality of offset assemblies are rotatably mounted, each offset assembly including a skew roller which turns about an axis that, when the offset assemblies are rotated, is not parallel to the axis about which a drive roller associated with the skew roller turns. A gear or rack-and-pinion type offset actuation system enables the offset assemblies to rotate repeatedly back and forth between predetermined positions, so that as media encounters the skew rollers it is directed against a reference edge and into an output stack associated with the offset assembly position.

Abstract: A charge roller made from a mixture of urethane, polybutadiene, a polyether diol, ferric chloride, and antimony doped tin oxide with or without carbon black. The roller has a very high outer surface electrical resistance from baking the roller to oxidize the polybutadiene. The charge roller is achieved at low production cost and functions well even with charging by a DC potential with an AC overlay.

Abstract: Charge generation layers for photoconductors comprise a binder and a charge generation compound, wherein the binder comprises a blend of polyvinylbutyral polymer and at least one resin which improves at least one electrical characteristic of a photoconductor in which the charge generation layer is included. Photoconductors comprise the charge generation layer in combination with a substrate and a charge transport layer.

Abstract: A heater chip module is provided comprising a carrier adapted to be secured to an ink-filled container, at least one heater chip having a base coupled to the carrier, and at least one nozzle plate coupled to the heater chip. The carrier includes a support substrate having at least one passage which defines a path for ink to travel from the container to the heater chip. The heater chip is secured at its base to a portion of the support substrate. At least the portion of the support substrate is formed from a material having substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the heater chip base. A flexible circuit is coupled to the heater chip module such as by TAB bonding or wire bonding.

Abstract: Charge generation layers comprising a binder and a charge generation compound, wherein the binder comprises a blend of methyl bisphenol A and an additional resin comprising an epoxy resin, a poly(phenylglycidyl ether)-co-dicyclopentadiene resin, a phenoxy resin or a polyhydroxystyrene resin. Dual layer photoconductors comprise the charge generation layer in combination with a substrate and a charge transport layer.

Abstract: A laser printer includes at least three laser beams for simultaneously scanning a rotatable recording medium. The laser beams have their centers spaced uniform or non-uniform distances from each other. The centers of the laser beams are spaced predetermined distances from each other so that the print resolution may be 300, 400, 600, or 1,200 dpi depending upon the laser beams selected for use with at least two laser beams always being selected.

Abstract: A photoconductive drum of an aluminum substrate and a blend of polyvinylbutyral and one or a blend of phenoxy resin, epoxy novolac resin, and epoxy capped polymers which are derivatives of bisphenol and epichlorohydrin. The blend enhances the electrical properties.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method of use therefore are disclosed. The printing apparatus is usable as a replacement printer for replacing an existing printer apparatus without having to change printer drivers or make custom firmware changes in computers on a computer network. The inventive printer apparatus includes a map of source number assignments in the memory of the replacement printer apparatus for the replaced existing printer apparatus and for the replacement printer apparatus. The printing apparatus has a plurality of paper sources with each paper source being assigned a particular pre-assigned assignment code. The print request codes associated with the existing network printer being replaced must be determined. The print request codes are representative of a particular type of paper source. A map of print request codes which are sent by computers on the network for driving the existing printer are compared with the pre-assigned source number assignment of the replacement printer.

Abstract: A page wide printhead for an ink-jet printer includes a plurality of ink-jet nozzles exceeding the number of nozzles used to print across the widest sheet of material to be printed by the printer. The excess nozzles permit the mounting tolerances for printheads to be relaxed so that only selected ones of the nozzles of mounted printheads are within a print site for printing the widest sheet of material to be printed. By selecting those nozzles within the maximum print site for operation of the printer, the sheet wide printheads are effectively mounted with a much higher precision than the relaxed tolerances permit so that ink-jet printers having sheet wide printheads can be economically manufactured. The identification of the nozzles within the maximum print site is performed by printing marks, preferably vertical lines, on a sheet of material and comparing the printed marks to an indicia representing the nominal location for a given picture element (pel).

Abstract: Methods of making a charge generation layer comprise premixing a charge generation compound, a charge transport compound and solvent to form a premix essentially free of polymeric binder, mixing the premix with at least one polymeric binder to form a dispersion, and coating the dispersion on a substrate. Photoconductors comprising a substrate, a charge transport layer and a charge generation layer formed by such a method exhibit improved electrical sensitivity.

Abstract: A flexible doctor blade having a radiused surface or nub for contacting a developer roll. The blade geometry which includes a cantilevered support for the nub provides lower torque in the developer, compliance to compensate for developer imperfections, and less tendency for streaking due to toner packing and filming.