Abstract: An in-process charge monitor and control system (32) for an ion implanter is provided, comprising: (i) wafer support (22) upon which a plurality of wafers (W) may be positioned for implantation by an ion beam (18), the support having portions thereof disposed intermediate adjacent wafers that are more or less electrically conductive than surfaces of the wafers, the wafer support (22) further having a center (31) from which each of the plurality of wafers is substantially equidistant, the wafer support further provided with first and second apertures (64, 66) disposed substantially equidistant from the center (31); (ii) first and second electrical charge monitors (40, 38) for receiving first and second portions of the ion beam (18a, 18b) through the first and second apertures (64, 66), respectively, and for outputting first and second output signals (44, 42), respectively, indicative of an amount of ion beam current received; and (iii) a comparator (46) for comparing the first and second output signals (44, 42

Abstract: An image development method and apparatus, wherein a support member is provided with a layer of marking material thereon, and an electrostatic latent image is created in the layer of marking material via image-wise charging of the layer of marking material. A selectively controllable charging device for directing a charge stream toward the support member having the layer of marking material coated thereon. The image-wise charge stream corresponds to the latent image, which, in turn, leads to image-wise charging of the toner layer, such that the toner layer itself becomes the latent image carrier. The latent image carrying toner layer is subsequently developed and transferred to a copy substrate to produce an output document.

Abstract: An device for applying an electrical charge to a member to be charged such as a charge retentive surface in an electrostatographic printing apparatus, including a multi-contact point conductive charging device positioned in contact with the member to be charged. The charging device includes multiple electrically isolated conductive blades which are independently electrically biased at predetermined voltage levels so as not to exceed a Paschen threshold voltage differential. Alternative embodiments are disclosed incorporating conductive blade members, as well as ionically conductive liquid carrying donor members. In operation, the charging device of the present invention permits generation of a charge potential on the photoreceptor significantly greater than the Paschen threshold voltage, while avoiding air breakdown.

Abstract: A novel image development method and apparatus, wherein an imaging member having an imaging surface is provided with a layer of marking material thereon, and an electrostatic latent image is created in the layer of marking material. Image-wise charging of the layer of marking material is accomplished by a wide beam ion source such that free mobile ions are introduced in the vicinity of an electrostatic latent image associated with the imaging member having the layer of marking material coated thereon. The latent image associated with the imaging member causes the free mobile ions to flow in an image-wise ion stream corresponding to the latent image, which, in turn, leads to image-wise charging of the toner layer, such that the toner layer itself becomes the latent image carrier. The latent image carrying toner layer is subsequently developed and transferred to a copy substrate to produce an output document.

Abstract: A system for conditioning liquid ink made up of toner particles immersed in a liquid carrier medium being delivered to or on an image bearing surface in a multicolor electrostatographic printing machine of the type utilizing liquid developing material, particularly an image-on-image type liquid ink multicolor system. The liquid ink conditioning system includes a first member for electrostatically compressing or compacting the toner particles towards or on the image bearing surface. A second member is provided downstream from the first member for removing excess liquid from the compressed liquid ink layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying an electrical charge to a charge retentive surface by transporting ions through an electrically biased ionically conductive liquid and transferring the ions to the member to be charged across the liquid/charge retentive surface interface. The electrically biased ionically conductive liquid medium is brought into contact with the photoreceptor by placing a hydrophilic material imbibed with the ionically conductive liquid in contact with the photoreceptor. The hydrophilic material is partially surrounded by a pair of elongated blade elements as well as a pair of end seal elements for providing a sealed structure for containing the hydrophilic material A voltage is applied to the ionically conductive liquid medium while translating or rotating the charge retentive surface past the ionically conductive medium, thereby enabling the transfer of ions to the charge retentive surface A support blade may be provided for urging the donor blade into contact with the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A system and method for color mixing management in an electrostatographic printing system, wherein a developing material reservoir containing an operative solution of colored developing material including a mixture of selected color components is continuously replenished with selected differently colored developing material concentrates in a predetermined ratio so as to be capable of producing a customer selectable color image area on an output substrate. The present invention may also be utilized to mix a customer selectable color in situ, either from stored proportions known to compensate for developability differences or from approximate amounts of primary color components initially deposited and mixed in the developing material reservoir with the resultant operative developing material mixture continually developed and replenished with a predetermined ratio of color components until the developing material mixture reaches a steady state color.

Abstract: An improved process for manufacturing glass coated wire, for example, a corona generating electrode having a dielectric coating layer of the type used in electrostatographic printing applications, wherein predetermined stresses are induced along the axial, radial, and hoop stress vectors present in the dielectric coating.

Abstract: A system for removing excess carrier liquid from an electrostatic image developed with liquid developing material made up of toner particles immersed in a liquid carrier medium on an image bearing member. The system includes an absorbent contact roller for absorbing at least a portion of the liquid carrier off of the liquid image, a vacuum source coupled to the contact roller for generating negative pressure at the surface of the roller to draw the absorbed liquid through the contact roller, and a nonpermeable vacuum sealing membrane member partially surrounding the contact member in an area not adjacent to the image bearing surface for reducing the surface area of the contact roller which is exposed to the ambient atmosphere to create a vacuum sealing arrangement adapted to deliver negative pressure airflow to a selected area adjacent the image bearing surface.

Abstract: A liquid developing material-based electrostatographic printing system including a carrier imbibing intermediate transfer member for absorbing liquid carrier from a liquid developed image transported thereon. A liquid extraction system is also provided for extracting imbibed liquid carrier from the liquid carrier imbibing layer of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A liquid developing material replenishment system wherein an apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image with a liquid developing material includes a liquid developing reservoir for providing a supply of operative liquid developing material to the developing apparatus, and a liquid developing material supply is coupled to the liquid developing material reservoir for providing a supply of liquid developing concentrate to the liquid developing material reservoir for replenishing the supply of operative liquid developing material in the liquid developing reservoir. A predetermined amount of operative liquid developing material is periodically and/or systematically discharged from the liquid developing material reservoir to remove contaminated liquid developing material from the reservoir.

Abstract: A system and method for color mixing control in an electrostatographic printing system. An operative mixture of colored developing material is continuously replenished with selectively variable amounts of developing materials of basic color components making up the operative mixture. The rate of replenishment of various color components added to the operative mixture is controlled to provide a mixture of developing material capable of producing a customer selectable color on an output copy substrate. A colorimeter is provided for monitoring the color of a test image printed with the operative mixture of developing material in the supply reservoir so that the color thereof can be brought into agreement with a color required to produce the customer selectable output color.

Abstract: A dual path sheet feeder is disclosed including a bypass transport loop and a main transport loop for selectively delivering sheets from a sheet feeding module to either a printer processing module or to a finishing module, wherein a movable gate situated adjacent to the bypass transport loop is provided for directing sheets along a predetermined path of travel. The movable gate is selectively positionable between a first position for directing the sheets through the main transport loop to the processing module to produce copy sheets prior to delivering the copy sheets to the finishing module and a second position for directing the sheets through the bypass transport loop to deliver insert sheets directly to the finishing module, circumventing the processing module.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image with liquid developing material. The apparatus includes a liquid developing material coating flow applicator for applying a substantially uniform coating of liquid developing material to a moving surface, wherein a housing, situated proximate to the moving surface, includes a fluid transport channel having a relatively narrow-width elongated outlet port for delivering a flow of liquid developing material to the moving surface, and an air flow channel having an elongated inlet aperture located adjacent the moving surface and immediately upstream from said outlet port for applying vacuum pressure to the flow of liquid developing material for varying the profile of the coating flow to provide variation of flow stability as well as thickness. A discussion of the effects of variations in the outlet port geometry, in particular, increasing the dimension between the downstream wall and the surface to be coated, has also been provided.

Abstract: A cylindrical and rotatable resonating assembly, generally for use in electrostatographic applications. The resonating assembly is preferably positioned along a longitudinal axis generally transverse to the process direction of movement of a toner bearing member, for applying uniform vibratory energy thereto. The cylindrical form of the resonating assembly allows for rotation of the assembly while remaining in contact with the image bearing member to reduce frictional forces between a contact surface of the resonating assembly and the image bearing member which, in turn, reduces wear of the resonating assembly as well as the image bearing member.

Abstract: An method and apparatus for eliminating residual charge potential in a multicolor electrostatographic system is disclosed, wherein a transparent conductive solution is applied to a developed image for neutralizing any charge potential therein prior to subsequent development of a superimposed electrostatic latent image. An apparatus for applying a thin layer of charge neutralizing material to the developed image is provided. In addition, various solutions have been described which may be advantageously utilized to provide a charge neutralizing material in the context of the present invention.

Abstract: A device for depositing charge on a charge retentive surface including an insulative support substrate coated with a layer of highly resistive material and a high voltage bus coupled thereto for providing a high voltage potential across the resistive material layer. The resistive charging device is positioned in contact with or in close proximity to a charge retentive surface to provide a uniform charging potential for depositing ions onto the charge retentive surface.

Abstract: A lateral sheet registering device for registering sheets transported along a predetermined path including a lateral registration edge positioned along the path. An active lateral registration apparatus urges sheetlike material into contact with a registration edge guide member as the material is advanced in a process direction of travel. A wear resistant contact surface is provided along an inboard side of the registration edge guide by mounting a plurality of dowel pins fabricated from a particularly wear resistant material along the registration edge guide. The dowel pins are mounted so as to be rotatable and/or replaceable without the requirement of replacing the registration edge guide or removing the sheet handling system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compacting a liquid ink developed image on an image bearing surface in a multicolor electrostatographic printing machine of the type utilizing liquid developing material, particularly an image-on-image type liquid ink multicolor system. The image compacting apparatus includes a biased electrode situated proximate to the image on an image bearing surface, and a liquid applicator for depositing liquid insulating material in a conditioning gap defined by the electrode and the image bearing surface. A high electric potential is applied to the electrode for generating a large electric field in the gap to electrostatically compress toner particles into image areas on the image bearing surface. The liquid insulating material is deposited into the conditioning gap for avoiding the risk of air breakdown as may occur in an electrostatic device of this nature due to the small geometry of the apparatus and the tendency of air ionization in an air gap between electrically biased surfaces.

Abstract: A document set compiler and eject apparatus including a belt transport system as well as an output roll system, wherein the belt and rolls of each respective system operate in conjunction with one another to provide smooth and effective transport of the document set from a compiler tray to an output tray. In particular, the output rolls, located downstream from the belt, are driven at a speed substantially greater than the speed of the transport belts for actively removing the document set from the belts to prevent damage to the trail edge thereof. The compiler tray also includes a retard roll system for maintaining the registration of the document set as it is transferred from the transport belts to the output rolls.