Abstract: An imaging device having a controller, a print engine and a raster image processor including methods for reducing wear in one or more components of the imaging device, the raster image processor including instructions for receiving a print job, determining whether one or more function features in the imaging device is disabled prior processing the print job, adjusting a default printing performance of the imaging device upon a determination that the one or more function features in the imaging device is disabled, generating a rasterized image for each page of the print job following the adjusting, and sending each rasterized image to the print engine of the imaging device for printing, wherein the adjusting the printing performance of the imaging device reduces the component wear in the imaging device and extends an allowable life of the one or more imaging components.

Abstract: An imaging system including a method for reducing component wear in an imaging device which includes receiving a print job in the imaging device, generating an image for each page of the print job, printing each image, determining whether an image generation during at least one of the receiving, the generating, and the printing is slow, and upon a positive determination, disabling one or more functions in the imaging device to adjust a default printing performance of the imaging device, wherein the one or more functions include an advanced start function and a smart-run out function stored in a memory of the imaging device for achieving the default printing performance.

Abstract: An imaging system including a method for reducing component wear in an imaging device which includes receiving a print job in the imaging device, generating an image for each page of the print job, printing each image, determining whether an image generation during at least one of the receiving, the generating, and the printing is slow, and upon a positive determination, disabling one or more functions in the imaging device to adjust a default printing performance of the imaging device, wherein the one or more functions include an advanced start function and a smart-run out function stored in a memory of the imaging device for achieving the default printing performance.

Abstract: An imaging device having a controller, a raster image processor and a print engine including methods for reducing wear in one or more components of the imaging device, the print engine including instructions for receiving a start command indicating receipt of a print job, determining whether a previous print job is processed successfully following receipt of the print job, and upon a negative determination, waiting for a print command prior processing each page of the print job to adjust a default printing performance of the imaging device and to reduce component wear in the imaging device as a result of adjusting the printing performance.

Abstract: An imaging device having a controller, a print engine and a raster image processor including methods for reducing wear in one or more components of the imaging device, the raster image processor including instructions for receiving a print job, determining whether one or more function features in the imaging device is disabled prior processing the print job, adjusting a default printing performance of the imaging device upon a determination that the one or more function features in the imaging device is disabled, generating a rasterized image for each page of the print job following the adjusting, and sending each rasterized image to the print engine of the imaging device for printing, wherein the adjusting the printing performance of the imaging device reduces the component wear in the imaging device and extends an allowable life of the one or more imaging components.

Abstract: A method for controlling transfer of black and color toned images during duplex printing. The method comprises determining whether or not a first image for printing on a back side of a media sheet is a color image, upon determining that the first image is a color image, ensuring each respective color transfer roll or color PC drum is in its respective engaged position, rotating the black and color PC drums, and setting the color flag to true, and printing the first image in color on the back side of the media sheet and upon determining that the first image is not a color image, ensuring each respective color transfer roll or color PC drum is in its respective disengaged position, rotating the black PC drum, setting the color flag to false, and printing the first image in black on the back side of the media sheet.

Abstract: A method for controlling transfer of black and color toned images during combined simplex and duplex printing in an electrophotographic imaging device having either a plurality of movable color photoconductive drums or a plurality of moveable color transfer rolls.

Abstract: A method for controlling transfer of black color toned images during simplex printing.

Abstract: A media path assembly in an imaging device includes a media guide positioned adjacent and transverse to a media path between a first and a second nip, and having a surface forming a bubble chamber across the media path. A bubble sensor and a narrow media sensor are positioned adjacent to the bubble chamber transverse to the media path and aligned with each other. The bubble sensor is operative to indicate formation in the bubble chamber of a bubble in a media sheet exiting the first nip. The narrow media sensor is operative to indicate media size of the media sheet and, when the media sheet is wide media, provide a balancing force to the media sheet relative to a force applied by the bubble sensor to the media sheet so that a leading edge of the media sheet substantially aligns with the second nip when entering the second nip.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for moving a cartridge between engaged and disengaged positions in an image forming device. The image forming device may include a bias control arm movable between first and second positions. When the bias control arm is in one of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is reduced and the cartridge moves to the disengaged position. When the bias control arm is in the other of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is increased and the cartridge is moved to the engaged position. In one embodiment, the bias control arm moves in a first direction, and the cartridge moves in a second direction different than the first direction.

Abstract: A printer is provided including a substrate transport apparatus; a pick mechanism; a fuser assembly having a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater, a backup member for engaging the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor associated with the backup member for sensing the temperature of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the substrate transport apparatus, the pick mechanism, the heater and the temperature sensor. The controller causes the pick mechanism to remove substrates from the storage tray at a first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature within a first backup member index temperature range and at different pick rate less than the first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature greater than the first backup member index temperature range.

Abstract: A media retraction and recycler system for use with image processing devices such as automatic document feeders and printers that concurrently supports two media sheets for duplex printing or scanning in a partial overlapping configuration in a variable nip pressure exit roll assembly allowing use of a media path that is shorter than the total media length of the two media sheets to facilitate an increased throughput during duplex scanning or printing operations.

Abstract: A media retraction and recycler system for use with image processing devices such as automatic document feeders and printers that concurrently supports two media sheets for duplex printing or scanning in a partial overlapping configuration in a variable nip pressure exit roll assembly allowing use of a media path that is shorter than the total media length of the two media sheets to facilitate an increased throughput during duplex scanning or printing operations.

Abstract: A system for delivering desired magnitudes of AC power to a load. A three-cycle power mode includes a 1st and 3rd cycle in which either no AC power, or full power, is delivered to the load, and a 2nd cycle in which an AC switch is triggered at a desired phase angle to deliver the desired increments of AC power during the 2nd cycle. AC power is delivered in each cycle in a manner to provide a net zero DC offset in the AC current delivered to the load. A two-cycle mode can be achieved by using the 1st and 2nd cycle, or by using the 2nd and 3rd cycles to optimize power delivery performance. A multi-cycle power delivery system can employ both the three-cycle and the two-cycle modes together to minimize the harmonic content during delivery of various power levels.

Abstract: A printer is provided comprising substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates along a substrate path through the printer; a fuser assembly comprising a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt, a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. Based on signals generated by the temperature sensor, the controller determines whether a substrate moving along the substrate path has been contacted by the backup member portion.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for moving a cartridge between engaged and disengaged positions in an image forming device. The image forming device may include a bias control arm movable between first and second positions. When the bias control arm is in one of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is reduced and the cartridge moves to the disengaged position. When the bias control arm is in the other of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is increased and the cartridge is moved to the engaged position. In one embodiment, the bias control arm moves in a first direction, and the cartridge moves in a second direction different than the first direction.

Abstract: A printer is provided, including a substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates along a substrate path; a media sensor actuated by mid-width and full substrates but not by narrow width substrates; and a fuser assembly including a belt, a heater to heat the belt, a backup member to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup member engaging only full width substrates. A controller is coupled to the media sensor and the temperature sensor for determining whether a substrate moving through the fuser assembly is a narrow width, mid-width or full width substrate.

Abstract: A method for setting a heater element of a fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition to achieve consistency in heating power measurement is provided. The heater element is heated to a first predefined temperature when the temperature of the heater element is less than the first predefined temperature. The temperature of the heater element is maintained within a predefined range for a predefined period of time. This sets the temperature of the heater element in the fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition. Thereafter, the heating power estimation measurement is made and heating power supplied to the fuser assembly is estimated. This controls the heating power delivered to the fuser assembly in a consistent manner.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for determining the presence of a module and presence of a media sheet in a media path using output signals from a single sensor in an image forming device. One embodiment includes a sensor which may be oriented in a variety of positions through interaction with the module and the media sheet. An algorithm may be used to determine the presence of the module in a module insertion path and presence of the media sheet in the media path based on the position of the sensor.

Abstract: A method for transferring images, to media sheets, of a simplex print job including a simplex image and a duplex print job including a first image and a second image received at an image forming apparatus having a duplexer and a media path having a duplex portion. During printing the second image of the duplex print job is printed on a first side of a first media sheet and the first media sheet is sent into duplexer and the duplex portion of the media path. Next, the first image of the simplex print job is transferred to a second media sheet and sent to an output bin, and finally the first image of the duplex print job is transferred to a second side of the first media sheet. The first image of the simplex print job is printed on the second media sheet while the first media sheet is traveling through the duplex portion of the media path of the image forming apparatus helping to increase image apparatus throughput.