Abstract: In a reproduction method and apparatus, a marking particle image is formed on an image-supporting member. A moving web supports a receiver member to advance the receiver member into a nip defined between the image-supporting member and a transfer roller. The web is in the nip during transfer so that the receiver member is between the web and the image-supporting member. An electrical transfer field is established in the nip for electrostatically transferring the marking particle image to the receiver member. A support roller presses against a portion of a roller surface of the transfer roller that does not form the nip to reduce bending of a portion of the rolling surface of the transfer roller that is associated with the nip.

Abstract: A data transmission system and method is provided for furnishing data to respective drivers for a multicolor sparse array non-impact recording head that includes plural sets of recording elements for sequentially exposing a single pixel area on a recording medium. In one recording mode each recording element of a set of recording elements for recording one color is provided with the same color component exposure data to sequentially control enablement of the plural recording elements at the pixel area. In a second mode at least one of the recording elements of the set is disabled from recording at the pixel area whereas at least one other recording element of the set is enabled to record with a color component exposure at the pixel area.

Abstract: A monolithic device comprises an LED chip array that includes photodetectors formed on the device so that each photodetector is associated with a respective LED for detecting light output of the LED. The locations of the photodetectors and the respective rows of bond pads for the LEDs and photodetectors are such as to facilitate connection to associated current driver circuitry. The device is preferably used on an LED printhead. Methods and apparatus are provided for using the device in recording of images. Printheads using such devices allow for determinations of improper operation of the LEDs either in real time or during other times such as interframe per rods. Thus, LED malfunction may be caught promptly without need to stop production to allow a diagnostic photodetector to traverse over the LEDs.

Abstract: A non-impact printer apparatus and method employs a printhead including a plurality of recording elements and drivers for driving respective recording elements in response to data relative to respective corrected exposure times for recording respective pixels. A first data storage device stores data relative to associating sets of respective recording elements with respective bins. The first data storage device is responsive to first input signals identifying respective recording elements and outputs second signals relative to respective bin assignment numbers for the respective recording elements. A second data storage device is responsive to the second signals for outputting data relative to corrected exposure times for recording respective pixels by respective recording elements. The bin assignment determination for recording elements are established by propagating exposure error calculated from an adjacent respective recording element.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus and method for cleaning remnant toner and carrier particles. A fiber cleaning brush includes plural individual conductive brush fibers in engagement with a toner bearing member to remove residual toner and magnetic carrier particles from the member. A detoning roller includes an electrically conductive surface that contacts the brush fibers and is electrically biased to electrostatically remove toner particles from the fiber brush. The detoning roller includes one or more permanent magnets for attracting remnant carrier to the detoning roller. A skive blade of non-magnetic material engages the detoning roller. In some embodiments, the permanent magnet is stationary and provides substantially no magnetic field where the skive blade engages the detoning roller to avoid congregation of magnetic carrier particles adjacent the edge of the blade. In another embodiment, the magnet rotates to cause carrier particles to move along the blade.

Abstract: An electrostatographic recording apparatus includes an endless recording member upon which toner images are recorded. A densitometer is provided for measuring density of a toned area on the recording member. The densitometer includes a light emitting and/or light sensitive component that is located in an internal space confined by the endless recording member. The densitometer further includes a slidable support upon which the component is mounted in facing relationship with and proximate to an internal facing portion of the recording member. A stationary mounting structure is attached to a film core upon which the film-like recording member is supported. The slidable support is received within the stationary mounting structure. An electrical circuit is electrically connected to the component and is mounted on a side of the slidable support that is opposite in facing direction to that of the component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a charge features a moving charge applying member having an electrically conductive structure and a semiconductive layer supported upon the conductive structure. The semiconductive layer is formed of a material having a volume resistivity of between about 1.times.10.sup.7 ohm-cm and about 1.times.10.sup.11 ohm-cm. An electrical bias device electrically biases the charge applying member. The electrical bias device applies an electrical bias to the charge applying member so that an electrical current flows from a peripheral surface of the charge applying member through the semiconductive layer to the conductive structure and from the conductive structure through the semiconductive layer to the member to be charged so that a net charge flowing through the semiconductive layer is about zero. The charge flow in the different directions may be simultaneous or at different times.

Abstract: A setup method for a corona charger device used in an electrophotographic recording apparatus. The setup method includes operating the corona charger device in a calibration mode so that charge of a first polarity is output by the device and deposited upon a photoconductive recording member. The level of charge deposited upon the member is sensed and a position of the charger device relative to the member is adjusted so that the level of charge deposited upon the member is at a target level. The charge of the first polarity output for setup is opposite to that of charge output during the production run.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatically transferring a toner image from a toner image bearing member (TIBM) to a receiver sheet is disclosed. A receiver sheet is moved within a nip defined between a transfer roller having a resistive outer layer and a toner image bearing member supporting a toner image. To provide for transfer, there is applied an electrical bias to the resistive layer from a conductive member located beneath the resistive layer and in electrical contact with the resistive layer. There are also applied to an outer surface of the resistive layer a first contact voltage to establish an post-nip electrical voltage distribution to a post-nip region of the transfer roller that is immediately downstream of an in-nip region. The post-nip electrical voltage distribution is accomplished by having the first contact voltage be applied at first points on the outer layer of the transfer roller, the first points being within or proximate the post-nip region.

Abstract: A resistive thermal printer has a platen drive mechanism which includes (1) a thermal printhead having an array of selectively-activatable thermal elements and (2) a rotatably-driven platen roller opposed to the printhead and forming a nip with the printhead through which a receiver medium is driven by the platen roller while the thermal elements are selectively activated. The platen roller has an outer layer of perfluorinated polymer. The platen roller includes a compliant layer below the outer layer of perfluorinated polymer.

Abstract: An electrostatographic recording method and apparatus includes an auto cycle-up routine for establishing readiness of various stations including a toning station for proper operation. In the automatic cycle-up routine proper operation of a toning station warmer is determined by a controller. The controller then establishes a first cycle-up duration when the toning station warmer is determined to be operating satisfactorily and a second and longer cycle-up duration when the toning station warmer is determined to be not operating satisfactorily.

Abstract: A non-impact printhead having a plurality of driver IC chips and and a plurality of recording elements such as LEDs. Each driver IC chip includes a plurality of current-carrying channels that are operative for carrying current to respective recording elements on the printhead and a control for controlling operation of the driver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing triboelectrically generated background development on a photoconductive primary image member bearing an electrostatic latent image pattern including background portions. In an electrophotographic black and white or color copier/printer, the primary image member is moved through a development zone. The image member includes a photoconductive element and a thin protective overcoat layer, the overcoat layer being between 0.1 .mu.m and 15 .mu.m in thickness and of a composition having between about 0.1% and about 10% by weight of a material that is an ionic conducting material and containing an electronegative group. The latent electrostatic image pattern is formed on the overcoat layer. Electrographic developer includes hard magnetic carrier particles and electrically insulative toner particles and moves through the development zone in contacting developing relation with the electrostatic charge pattern.

Abstract: A corona charger for depositing an electrostatic charge on a charge retentive surface, without the creation of sheeting defects, the charger includes a coronode, and a power supply operating in cycles and providing in each of the cycles electrical power to the coronode to produce a net positive charging current with voltage to the coronode from the power supply operating in a portion of each cycle with a positive polarity to generate positive corona emissions. The power supply operates so that an AC component of the voltage provided by the power supply has a positive polarity in the range of about 60% to about 85% of each cycle. When operating in a broader range of greater than 50% but less than 100%, DC equivalent current to the coronode is controlled below a value causing sheeting.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus and method particularly suited for an electrophotographic DAD-CAD system having an electrostatic recording member for supporting an electrostatic image, a primary charger establishes a primary charge on the member, the primary charge being defined by a parameter V.sub.o. An exposure device imagewise modulates the primary charge to form an electrostatic image on the recording member. The device has an exposure parameter E.sub.o. A developer station develops the electrostatic image with charged toner. The developer station has an electrical bias to establish a field for urging movement of the toner to the member. The electrical bias has an alternating current component parameter AC and a direct current parameter DC. A controller controls adjustments to the parameters E.sub.o, V.sub.o and AC by measuring a density parameter D.sub.OUT of an exposed and developed area on the member that is formed by operation of the primary charger, the exposure device and the developer station.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for robust transfer of toner images using toner particles having a volume average diameter between about 2 .mu.m and about 9 .mu.m is described. Surprisingly good electrostatic transfer is obtained when the surface charge density of the toner is between 3.0.times.10.sup.-9 coul/cm.sup.2 and 6.5.times.10.sup.-9 coul/cm.sup.2 and when this toner is used in conjunction with a compliant transfer intermediate.

Abstract: Toner images are formed electrophotographically on a photoconductive imaging member and electrostatically transferred to a receiving surface. Electrostatic transfer is improved with a photoconductive image member having a compliant layer with a Young's modulus less than 5.times.10.sup.7 Pascals backing a thin photoconductive layer with a Young's modulus greater than 10.sup.8 Pascals. Preferably, the compliant layer is not more than 30 microns from the surface of the imaging member.

Abstract: A method for connecting selected bonding pads of a universal current driver IC supporting a maximum resolution, e.g., 600 DPI, with the appropriate bonding pads of the same or a lower resolution LED chip array. The output pads of the current driver IC and the pads of the LED elements of each LED chip array or segment are matched so that wire bonding takes place between the physically closest pads. Consequently, the universal current driver IC may be employed with LED chips or segments of a certain standardized length that contain 96 LED elements for 300 DPI, 128 LED elements for 400 DPI, and 192 LED elements for 600 DPI or the like. The selection algorithm, in picking the physically closest IC current driver pad to be connected to an LED element pad leaves certain stages of the IC driver unconnected.

Abstract: A non-impact printer apparatus includes a printhead having a plurality of recording elements. The printhead further includes a non-volatile memory that stores prebinned data representing recording characteristics relative to the recording elements. The prebinned data includes (a) data associating respective recording elements with respective bins; and (b) data relative to a characteristic of each bin. A controller means is located off of the printhead for generating tables for correcting for non-uniformity of the recording elements. The controller uses the prebinned data for generating the tables.

Abstract: A printhead includes a plurality of recording elements such as LEDs each having a light output characteristic related to a driving parameter such as current. A plurality of driver circuits establishes the driving parameter for driving the recording elements. The driver circuits are mounted on a circuit board. A flex circuit having a conductive pattern electrically connects the driver circuits to the recording elements. The driver circuits include resistors for use in regulating the driving parameter. In lieu of mounting the resistors on the circuit board, the resistors are instead advantageously mounted on the flex circuit for controlling current to the respective recording elements. This allows the resistors and recording elements to be replaced without the need to also replace or modify the circuit board in the event that more efficient recording elements are to be used.