Abstract: Seamed belts, particularly puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts, and marking machines that use such belts, that have a beveled sides across the thickness of the belt. When the first and second ends are interlocked the bevel points are adjacent one another and a substantially V-shaped channel is formed. An adhesive is disposed in that channel. The V-shaped channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam.

Abstract: An input scanner for scanning three-dimensional objects, such as books, on a platen. The input scanner includes a light source for illuminating a three-dimensional object, an elongated sensor array for producing a digital representation of the image on the three-dimensional object, a lens array, a moving mirror, and a mirror positioning system, which beneficially includes a mirror motor. The mirror positioning system positions the mirror such that the input scanner's object plane tracks the contour of the three-dimensional object on the platen. Object plane adjustments are performed in response to contour information from a mechanical track guide, from a profile memory, or from a height sensor. Additionally, the input scanner might use a movable lens array, which is beneficially a gradient-index lens array.

Abstract: An input scanner for scanning three-dimensional objects, such as books, on a platen. An elongated raster scanner produces a digital representation of a line image in an object plane that is a fixed distance in front of the raster scanner's input optics. When scanning the three-dimensional object the raster scanner travels along a track guide that is contoured in the Z-direction. That contour is designed to mimic the contour of the three-dimensional object being scanned. When traveling along the track guide the distance between the three-dimensional object and the object plane remains substantially constant.

Abstract: Color scanners that separate multi-wavelength light into color components having substantially equal optical path lengths. An colorscanner includes a first prism that receives multi-wavelength light, internally reflects a first component and passes second and third components into a first gap. A first reflector reflects the second and third components back into the first prism. The component parts then pass into a second prism that internally reflects the first and second component parts but passes the third component into a second gap. A second reflector reflects the third component part back into the second prism. A third prism then receives the color components, internally reflects the third component part, and passes the first and second component parts into a third gap. A third reflector reflects the first and second component parts back into the third prism.

Abstract: A printbar assembly comprised of an array of light emitters, and array of gradient index lenses, and a light control film. The light control film, which is comprised of a plurality of microlouvers, is disposed such that it limits the angle at which light from the light emitters can enter the gradient index lenses. The light control film increases the depth of focus of the gradient index lens array without significantly reducing the effective radiometric efficiency.

Abstract: Flexible belts, and electrophotographic machines that use such flexible belts, that having embedded sensor fibers that run across the belt's width. Such sensor fibers enable sensors located along the side of the belt to sense belt position and/or motion.

Abstract: Color electrophotographic printers having latent image positions synchronized with start-of-scan signals. A laser source projects a laser beam onto a multifaceted rotating polygon that sweeps that beam in a scan line across a moving photoreceptor. A start-of-scan detector produces start-of-scan signals when the laser beam is in position to write a scan line. A belt sensor produces belt signals when indicia on the photoreceptor passes a reference position. A controller receives the belt signals and the start-of-scan and then adjusts the photoreceptors rotational velocity such that the belt signals are an integral multiple of the start-of-scan signals. To reduce the impact of drive roller eccentricities on belt signal to start-of-scan signal timing, the perimeters of photoreceptor roller elements are sub-multiples of the photoreceptor length.

Abstract: Seamed belts having puzzle-cut seam with edges that are themselves puzzle-cut: puzzle-cut on puzzle-cut seamed belts. Such belts beneficially may take the form of imageable seam intermediate transfer belts such as those used in marking machines. Belts are formed from a substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that interlock to form a seam. That first end includes puzzle-cut tabs that have puzzle-cut edges and the second end includes puzzle-cut tabs that also have puzzle-cut edges. The first end and the second end interlock such that the puzzle tabs and the puzzle-cut edges mate to form the seam. Beneficially an adhesive is disposed over the seam. If the seamed belt is an imageable seam intermediate transfer belt the substrate is beneficially semiconductive.

Abstract: Puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seam intermediate transfer belts. A belt is formed from a semiconductive substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are mated to form a seam. The first end includes a first tongue and the second end includes a second tongue that form a rabbeted joint such that the outer surface of the belt is substantially smooth across the seam. An adhesive is disposed over the rabbeted joint. The tongues may include mechanical locking features, such a protrusion and a channel, that mate. The mechanical locking features may be continuous along the seam.

Abstract: Fabricating belts by forcing adhesive into a belt seam using centrifugal forces. A belt having ends that are fabricated to mate along a seam is inserted into a cylinder such that a seam is formed. An adhesive is then deposited along the seam and the cylinder is spun at a speed sufficient to force the adhesive into the seam. The adhesive is then cured so as to produce a seamed belt.

Abstract: Seamed belts, particularly puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts, that have large seam surface areas and puzzle-cut tabs that are resistant to lifting away from the seam. Belts include a substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are interlocked together to form a seam having a kerf. The first end includes a first step and the second end includes a second step. When the ends are interlocked the first step and the second step form a channel. An adhesive is disposed in the channel. The resulting channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam. When the belt is an imageable seam intermediate transfer belt the substrate takes the form of a semiconductive substrate. Such imageable seam intermediate transfer belts find use in electrophotographic marking machines.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly determining and correcting the position of a scanning light beam. The apparatus includes a linear position sensor that senses the position of the scan line and a circuit that produces a position signal from the sensed scan line position. A closed loop scan line control system further includes a scan line correction mechanism that adjusts the position of the scan line such that the position of the scan line is corrected for each individual polygon facet. Beneficially, the closed loop scan line correction mechanism includes a mover that moves an optical element, such as a mirror or lens, that adjusts the scan line position.

Abstract: Marking machines having imageable seam intermediate transfer belts and toner particles that are “tuned” to that belt. An imageable seam intermediate transfer belt includes a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are interlocked along a kerf to form a seam. That kerf has an average width of W. A developer deposits toner particles onto a latent image on a photoreceptor. Those toner particles have an average minimum width (diameter if the particles are spherical) of a size that is similar to W. That is, the kerf width is at least within an order of magnitude of the average minimum width of a toner particle. A transfer station then transfers toner from the photoreceptor to the imageable seam intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: Seamed belts, in particular puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts and electrophotographic printing machines that use such transfer belts, that are resistant to unzipping. The seamed belts include a first substrate having a first end and a second end that mate to form a first seam that runs across the first substrate. Along at least one side edge of each end of the first substrate is a cut-out. With the first end and the second end mated to form the first seam the cut-outs align to form a larger cut-out. A second substrate is then fitted into the larger cut-out along a second seam. Beneficially, an adhesive is disposed over the first seam and the second seam. Imageable seam intermediate transfer belts have first and second substrates that are beneficially semiconductive and puzzle-cut seams.

Abstract: A Direct Digital Synthesis pixel clock generator for use in electrophotographic printers. A controller receives a start-of-scan signal and a facet 0 signal. In response, the controller sends a pre-stored frequency control word to a Direct Digital Synthesis Oscillator. The Direct Digital Synthesis Oscillator sends pulses at a frequency that depends on the frequency control word to a Digital Phase Shift Circuit. The controller also applies a sequence of delay profile words to the Digital Phase Shift Circuit. Each delay profile word causes the Digital Phase Shift Circuit to delay a contemporaneous pulse from the Direct Digital Synthesis Oscillator between 0° and 360° degrees, with the actual delay depending upon the delay profile word. The delay profile words are selected such that scan line pixels are “adjusted” in position. A phase-locked-loop circuit integrates and smoothes the frequency step changes.

Abstract: A low cost, high-speed device for rotating a variable thickness substrate stacks in a short distance, and with neatness and precision. The substrate stack rotating device includes a lower rotating disk and an upper rotating disk that are located in a substrate path to receive a moving substrate stack. The upper disk is driven downward such that a substrate stack is pinched between the lower and upper rotating disks. The resultant clamping force helps maintain substrate stack integrity and neatness. Once a substrate stack is clamped, one of the disks is rotated, bring the substrate stack into a desired orientation. The upper rotating disk is then released, the substrate stack beneficially moves away from the disks, and the substrate stack rotating device is ready to accept another substrate stack.

Abstract: Torque transmitting, molded flexible shaft assemblies having two rigid, tubular, shell-like sections that are filled and linked together by a flexible material. The two sections are placed in a mold such that they are separated by an elongated cavity. A flexible-when-hardened moldable material such as polyurethane then fills the mold such that the two sections and the elongated cavity are filled by the moldable material.

Abstract: Raster scanners, and printing machines which use raster scanners, that include compensation for the finite response times of their lasers and their laser drive signals on image edges. When an image pixel is not an image edge the laser driver is driven in synchronization with a master clock. However, if an image pixel is an edge of an image the laser driver is driven earlier than it would have been if it was driven in synchronization with the master clock. Beneficially, the drive to the laser driver is advanced such that the actual laser exposure curve crosses that of an ideal laser exposure curve such that the developed line edge is substantially ideal.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for reducing or eliminating scan line magnification errors in digital copiers that use an input scanner and a raster output scanner. The input scanner integration period, and thus the input scan line rate, is synchronized with the rotation of the raster output scanner, and thus the output scan line rate. Synchronization might be achieved using either a one to one input scan line to output scan line ratio, or by scanning multiple output scan lines for each input scan line. Beneficially, the principles of the present invention are implemented by synchronizing the input scan rate of an input scanner with the rotation of a polygon of a raster output scanner using a start of scan detector.

Abstract: Power factor control in an AC powered machine having multiple input electrical power requirements. AC input power is continuously applied to a low input power load and selectively to a high input power load. The AC power to the high input power load is pulse modulated to have an input power that depends upon the input AC line voltage and upon the input AC line current. The pulse modulated AC power is controlled such that the total AC input power remains less than a design limit. If the high input power load is a heater, the pulse modulated AC power also depends on the heater's temperature.