Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling conditions in a printer that includes a print engine that is operative upon an article to print marks upon the article. Sensors are provided for detecting relative humidity and temperature within a moving air stream in the printer. A controller in the printer determines if the detected relative humidity within the apparatus falls within a range of acceptable relative humidities and the detected temperature within the apparatus falls within a range of acceptable temperatures. The range of acceptable relative humidities and acceptable temperatures defines a predetermined target area. When outside the range of the predetermined target area a determination is made of needed minimal adjustments to bring the temperature and humidity within the target area. Subject to such a determination, mist and/or heating of the air stream are provided to implement the needed adjustments.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes one or more recording components which are operative upon a recording member for use in recording an image upon the recording member. The recording member is moved in a process path during recording and operated upon by the one or more recording components used in recording. An access door cover is openable for providing access to a serviceperson to the one or more recording components and/or the recording member. A blower establishes an air path of air within the apparatus to control temperature and humidity of the recording components. The air path has a substantial current flowing in a direction transverse to the process path and over or about the recording member and/or the one or more recording components towards the access door cover.

Abstract: A photoconductive drum assembly and an optical writer used in an electrophotographic printer/copier share the same mechanical fiducials for positioning these subsystems within the printer/copier frame or housing. Preferably, a pair of mounting pins used to position and support the drum assembly in a printer frame is also used to position the optical writer. As a result of this mounting scheme, a tolerance stacking problem is reduced and each subsystem can be removed from the printer housing without disturbing the position of the other. Further, the need for a mechanism to retract the optical writer from the vicinity of the drum surface to facilitate drum removal is eliminated, thereby lowering cost and increasing reliability.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer/copier comprises a photoconductive drum assembly and an optical writer for projecting a rectilinear line of image information onto the drum's photoconductive surface. Both subsystems share the same pair of mechanical fiducials for precisely positioning these subsystems in the printer frame. According to the invention, the optical writer is movably mounted on the fiducials to adjust the skew of an image line projected onto the drum.

Abstract: Image-forming apparatus includes a finite length image member such as a seamed photoconductive loop. Images are formed on the image member in one of three different sized image frames, the first image frame being 1/2 the in-track length of the third image frame and the second image frame having an intermediate length. Relatively small size images, for example letter size images are formed in the first size frames while relatively large sized images, for example, ledger sized images are formed in the third size frames. Intermediate sized images, for example images for B-4 receiving sheets are formed in the second or intermediate size image frames. Receiving sheets in duplex are passed through a finite length duplex path which has a speed profile which is substantially the same for receiving sheets bearing images formed in the first and third frame lengths but is different, for example faster, for images formed in the second size image frame while use of the same duplex path for the three frame sizes.

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus for transporting document sheets, wherein passive gripper gates, of simplified construction, selectively attach a sheet to the transport belt of the sheet transporting apparatus. The sheet transporting apparatus comprises a transport belt having a passive mechanism for selectively clamping a document sheet thereto. The transport belt is moved along a path, and a sheet is delivered into association with the passive clamping mechanism. The passive clamping mechanism is selectively actuated to clamp a sheet delivered into association therewith to the transport belt for movement with the transport belt. A mechanism, located downstream in direction of movement of the transport belt, selectively deactuates the passive clamping mechanism to release a sheet from the clamping mechanism of the transport belt. Thereafter, the sheet is separated from the transport belt.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning particulate matter from a moving web, such apparatus being held in effective cleaning contact therewith. The apparatus includes a member, which is at least partially formed of magnetically attractable material, for engaging the surface of a moving web to be cleaned. Such member is held in cleaning contact with such web by a magnet which is located adjacent to the surface of the web opposite to the surface to be cleaned, and which induces a magnetic field which attracts the member to the web.

Abstract: A transfer roller apparatus for use for example in an electrographic copier including a dielectric member adapted to carry electrostatically developed marking particle images, and the mechanism for applying an electrical bias thereto. The transfer roller apparatus, employing a mechanism for accurately locating a receiver member on the periphery of the roller, dielectric member of the copier. Such apparatus includes a conductive core, mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and located such that its peripheral surface is in operative relation with the dielectric member. An electrical bias is applied to the roller to establish a transfer field between the roller and the dielectric member to effect transfer of marking particle images from the dielectric member to a receiver member accurately located on the peripheral surface of the roller. The bias is applied by connecting an electrical potential source to the roller through the conductive core.

Abstract: A transfer roller apparatus for use for example in an electrographic copier including a dielectric member adapted to carry electrostatically developed marking particle images on successive image receiving areas. The transfer roller apparatus, is driven to synchronize transfer roller rotation with dielectric member movement for accurate transfer of marking particle images to a receiver member on such roller peripheral surface. The roller transfer apparatus includes a gear train having a first gear coupled to a rotational motive source and a last gear coaxially coupled to the transfer roller. The transfer roller is articulatable to a first position in operative relation with the dielectric member, a second position in operative relation with a cleaning mechanism for the peripheral surface of the roller, and a third rest position intermdiate the first and second positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for electrostatically transferring a transferable image of electroscopic marking particles from an image-carrying member to a receiver member. The apparatus comprises an electrically conductive member, such as a roller, selectively coupled to a source of electrical image-transferring potential. Such conductive member is adapted to have a receiver member attached to its surface, and includes a mechanism for registering an image-carrying member relative to an attached receiver member. A compliant member, such as a back-up roller having a resilient deformable peripheral surface, engages the conductive member to define an extended nip. An image-carrying member is guided into engagement with the registration mechanism of the conductive member and then through the nip, where a transferable image on such image-carrying member is transferred to such attached receiver member when image-transferring potential is coupled to the conductive member.

Abstract: In an electrographic copier, a buffer station for storing discrete sheets, adapted to have transferable images formed respectively thereon, and for distribution of such sheets into a track assembly where such sheets are transported into operative relation with electrographic process stations of such copier. The buffer station safely stores a plurality of sheets in spaced relation to prevent contact between adjacent sheets. The buffer station is indexable relative to the track assembly for alignment with such track assembly so as to receive a sheet from or distribute a sheet to the track assembly. The stored sheets are selectively released from the buffer station when respectively aligned with the track assembly.

Abstract: For use in an electrographic copier having a track assembly with multiple tracks defining a path associated with the copier process stations through which discrete image carrier sheets are moved to form developed images on such sheets, apparatus for mounting such sheets for movement along selected tracks of such track assembly. Supports, such as rigid rectangular frames, hold discrete image carrier sheets respectively in a substantially planar condition. The sheet supports include mechanisms for engaging selected tracks of the track assembly. The mechanisms movably mount supported sheets, when moving along a portion of the track assembly path, in the same plane relative to that portion of the path regardless of the selected track with which they are engaged.

Abstract: A fixture for measuring the drive forces of a friction drive apparatus. The fixture comprises a first member having a first surface adapted to be located in juxtaposition with the friction drive apparatus. A reaction member is movably supported on the first member such that when the first member is in juxtaposition with the friction drive apparatus the reaction member is in engagement with the friction drive apparatus. The reaction member is movable relative to the first surface in response to the driving force of the friction drive apparatus. The reaction member includes reference means for indicating the relative position of the reaction member and the first surface. The reaction member is urged toward a rest position on the first surface. The magnitude of the urging force is proportional to the displacement of the reaction member from the rest position by the driving force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating sheets moving in a path at a registration position in the path. The sheets, moving seriatim in a path established by a guide and a platen of a reproduction apparatus, are pinched against the platen to decelerate the sheets as they approach the registration position for copying. The pinching action is accomplished by deflecting a resilient member into the path into juxtaposition with the platen. The member covers an opening in the guide and is deflected by a mechanism extensible through the opening. In its deflected position, the member exerts a deceleration force on the sheet to retard the sheet as it approaches the registration position. The deceleration force has a component that is substantially parallel to the surface of the sheet and a component that is substantially normal to the surface and of greater magnitude than the parallel component.

Abstract: Grounded grid static discharge apparatus having a pair of spaced insulator blocks mounted in a shell. A grounded grid is fixed to the shell located adjacent to a sheet travel path. The insulator blocks have openings which serve as radial locators for a high voltage corona wire, extending between the blocks. A contact member, housed within one of the blocks, captures one end of the corona wire and positions the corona wire in relation to the respective opening of the block. A high voltage electrical coupling is made to the corona wire by inserting a male connector from a high voltage source into direct engagement with the contact member to complete the coupling with a minimum of electrical interfaces. The other insulator block has an end cap for capturing the opposite end of the corona wire. The end cap is urged in a direction to provide tension in the corona wire to maintain the wire in the radial locators for proper spatial positioning of the wire with respect to the shell and grid.