Abstract: An alignment baffle for use in a printing apparatus having a conveying mechanism for conveying images toward an image transfer area and copy sheet chute for guiding copy sheets toward the conveying mechanism is provided. The images are transferred to the copy sheets in the transfer area. The baffle includes a body operably associated with the image transfer area and a first member connected to the body and spaced from the copy sheet chute. The first member has a first member surface for guiding the copy sheet. The baffle also includes a second member operably associated with the first member, connected to the body and spaced from the copy sheet chute. The second member has a second member surface for guiding the copy sheet. The first member and the second member have a passageway therebetween for passage of the copy sheets therebetween. The first member surface and the second member surface cooperate with the copy sheets to guide the copy sheets in a path tangential to the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: A developer roll for use in an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member in which a magnetic field attracts magnetic particles to form a magnetic brush on the periphery of a developer roll assembly. The developer roll assembly includes a sleeve and the developer roll. The developer roll is located at least partially within the sleeve. The developer roll includes a core having a core feature and a magnetic member having a member feature. The core feature and the member feature cooperate with each other so that the member and the core are mechanically interlocked with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for the preparation of a mixture of toner resin and initiator, to form a toner resin or toner mixture including cross-linked microgel particles is provided. The apparatus includes a toner extruder having the resin being conveyed therethrough and an adder for adding the initiator to the toner resin in the toner extruder to form the toner resin or mixture. The apparatus also includes a measurer for measuring the cross-linked microgel particles in the toner mixture substantially immediately after mixing in the toner extruder and transmitting a signal indicative of the quantity of cross-linked microgel particles in the toner resin or mixture. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the addition rate of initiator in response to the signals from the measurer.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing magnetic granules from a moving imaging surface in a region between a developer station and a transfer station is provided. The apparatus includes a removing member located between the developer station and the transfer station. The removing member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. A groove is located in an exterior surface of the removing member. A portion of the groove extends in a direction skewed to the longitudinal axis of the removing member. The apparatus also includes a a magnetic member which is operatively associated with the removing member. The magnetic member generates a magnetic field to attract the magnetic granules from the imaging surface to the removing member. The removing member and the magnetic member move relatively to one another.

Abstract: A bearing for supporting a member in an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a latent image recorded in a photoconductive drum and for alternatively receiving at least a first shaft and a second shaft is provided. The first shaft has a shape substantially physically different from the second shaft. The bearing includes a body operably associated with the member, a first feature operably associated with the body for supporting the first shaft, and a second feature operably associated with the body for supporting the second shaft, whereby the bearing may accommodate both of the two shafts.

Abstract: An annotation system for automatically recording additional image information on an image bearing member is provided. The system includes an occluding device assembly, including an occluder bar for masking the image bearing member in a predetermined region to allow for the additional image information to be recorded thereon, a light emitting source for producing a light image of the additional image information, and a drive apparatus for simultaneously selectively positioning the occluder bar and the light emitting source with respect to an image area on the image bearing member.

Abstract: A device is provided for storing a supply of particles for use in a developer unit of an electrophotographic printing machine. The device includes an open ended container defining a chamber in communication with the open end of the container with the particles being stored in the chamber of the container. The container defines an aperture in the container spaced from the open end and an air permeable cover closely conforming to the aperture for containing the particles within the container.

Abstract: A marking particle color blending device for use in an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is provided. The device includes a first container for storing a first supply of marking particles defining a first color and a second container for storing a second supply of marking particles defining a second color. The device further includes a mixing chamber operably associated with the first container and the second container for receiving a least a portion of at least one of the first supply of marking particles and the second supply of marking particles. The device also includes a first metering device operably associated with the first container and the mixing chamber for accurately controlling the quantity of the first supply of marking particles entering the mixing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering contaminants from marking particles is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit and a mover for moving the marking particles within the conduit. The apparatus also includes a screen positioned adjacent the conduit so that substantially all the marking particles discharged from the conduit pass through the screen.

Abstract: An electric motor including a housing defining an aperture therethrough is disclosed. The motor also includes an armature mounted in the housing and a brush mounted in the housing and slidably connected to the armature. The housing substantially encloses the armature and the brush. The aperture is positioned with respect to the brush so that the brush may be visible through the aperture and so that the remaining usable life of the brush may be visually determined while the electric motor is assembled.

Abstract: A die for the preparation of a toner resin in an extruder having a housing defining a housing aperture therein and a conveyor for conveying the resin through the housing aperture to form a stream of resin is provided. The die includes a member connected to a first end of the housing. The member defines an opening therethrough. The member includes a splitter disposed adjacent the opening for splitting a stream of resin passing through the opening in a first direction into two separate streams of resin.

Abstract: A mill for grinding marking particles utilizing a source of a pressurized fluid is provided. The mill includes a grinding chamber having a peripheral wall, a base and a central axis. The mill also includes a nozzle associated with the peripheral wall of the grinding chamber. The nozzle defines an inlet of the nozzle. The inlet is connectable to the source of pressurized fluid. The pressurized fluid propels the marking particles about the periphery of the chamber. The mill further includes a plug cooperable with the nozzle. The plug is in engagement the nozzle when the pressure within the grinding chamber is substantially greater than the pressure at the inlet of the nozzle.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a processing section for transferring a developed image onto a copy sheet and a finishing section for receiving plural copy sheets to generate a print set is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first sheet feeding apparatus associated with the processing section for feeding the sheets through the processing station at a first translational speed and a second sheet feeding apparatus associated with the finishing section for feeding the sheets to the finishing section at a second translational speed. The apparatus also includes a sheet transfer apparatus for transferring the sheets from the first sheet feeding apparatus to the second sheet feeding apparatus, for changing the speed of the sheets from the first translational speed to the second translational speed and for positioning adjacent sheets in the second feeding apparatus in a spaced apart relationship therebetween defining a space between adjacent sheets.

Abstract: A toner extruder for the preparation of a toner resin extrudate from a resin is provided. The extruder includes a housing defining a housing aperture and a resin inlet opening in the housing. The extruder also includes a conveyor for conveying the resin through the housing aperture. The extruder further includes a member adjacent the resin inlet opening for inhibiting the heat transfer from the housing and/or the conveyor to the resin at the opening. The flow of resin adjacent the opening is thus improved.

Abstract: A shaft assembly comprising an elongated member having at least a portion which is hollow, tubular, shell like having an inside surface defining a shaft core and an outside surface defining a shaft functional surface, the shaft core being filled with a hardened, moldable material, and the shaft functional surface having at least one functional feature thereon, which is of hardened, moldable material integrally molded with the hardened, moldable material in the shaft core. In a preferred embodiment the shaft assembly is rotatable and has at least one molding aperture gate extending through the shaft from the inside surface to the outside surface which is filled with hardened, moldable material which connects the hardened material in the shaft core and functional feature.

Abstract: A channel for recirculating a stream of air located adjacent a stream of marking particles exiting substantially tangentially from a marking particle transport member within a developer unit is provided. The stream of marking particles defines an inner boundary thereof extending tangentially from a first position adjacent to the transport member and defines an outer boundary thereof spaced from the transport member and the inner boundary. The channel includes a first member positioned outside the stream of marking particles. At least a portion of the first member is positioned substantially adjacent the outer boundary of the stream of marking particles and is spaced from the transport member. The channel also includes a second member connected to the first member and a third member connected to the second member. The second member is positioned adjacent the transport member and is spaced from the stream of marking particles.

Abstract: A developer roll for use in an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member in which a voltage differential is applied between the roll and a region adjacent the roll is provided. The developer roll includes a wound roll of media and a layer of resin. The wound roll is formed from a sheet of the media. The layer of resin is applied to the periphery of the wound roll. The layer of resin and the roll of media are selected of materials to obtain a decay rate relating to the electrical response of the layer of resin to the applied voltage differential.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded in a surface of a flexible photoconductive member. The apparatus includes a developer unit having a developer roll and a backing member. The roll is positioned opposed from the surface of the flexible photoconductive member and is used for developing the latent image with developer material. The backing member has an arcuate surface in engagement with a surface of the flexible photoconductive member opposed from the surface having the latent image recorded thereon. The flexible photoconductive member is wrapped about at least a portion of the arcuate surface of the backing member to form a negative wrap angle opposed from the developer unit. The centerpoint of the developer roll, the centerpoint of the backing member and the centerpoint of the arcuate surface are colinear.

Abstract: An apparatus for the preparation of a mixture of toner resin and initiator, to form a toner resin or toner mixture including cross-linked microgel particles is provided. The apparatus includes a toner extruder having the resin being conveyed therethrough and an adder for adding the initiator to the toner resin in the toner extruder to form the toner resin or mixture. The apparatus also includes a measurer for measuring the cross-linked microgel particles in the toner mixture substantially immediately after mixing in the toner extruder and transmitting a signal indicative of the quantity of cross-linked microgel particles in the toner resin or mixture. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the addition rate of initiator in response to the signals from the measurer.

Abstract: An apparatus for the mixing of toner and a material to form a toner mixture is provided. The apparatus includes a grinder having a grinding chamber within the grinder and a material adder for adding the material into the grinding chamber. The apparatus further includes a mixer for mixing the toner and the material within the grinding chamber to form the toner mixture.