Abstract: A binding tape cartridge in which a reel of binding tape is packaged in a moisture impervious bag. The bag has an exit port through which the tape is advanced. A seal, mounted in the exit port, permits the passage of tape therethrough while maintaining the interior substantially dry. This projects the binding tape from moisture, reducing the possibility of tape delamination.

Abstract: An adaptive setup for a printing machine that stores time and date data for each usage. A pattern of the stored information is determined and processed in conjunction with operator entered restrictions in order to specify machine operating conditions for successive days and times.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a donor roll advances toner to an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member. A plurality of electrical conductors are located in grooves in the donor roll. The electrical conductors are spaced from one another and adapted to be electrically biased in the development zone to detach toner from the donor roll so as to form a toner cloud in the development zone. In the development zone, toner is attracted from the toner cloud to the latent image. In this way, the latent image is developed with toner.

Abstract: An apparatus which determines the intensity of signals generated by a raster input scanner. The signals are inputted to a delay circuit and to a gray detector. The signals generated from the delay circuit and the gray detector are subsequently sent to a logic circuit which determines whether to output a gray signal or a non-gray signal to a raster output scanner used to expose a charged photoconductive surface to record a latent image thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member with toner particles. A donor member is spaced from the photoconductive member and transports toner particles to a development zone adjacent the photoconductive member. Electrode wires are positioned in the development zone between the photoconductive member and the donor member. The electrode wires are electrically biased to detach toner particles from the donor member to form a cloud of toner particles in the development zone. Toner particles detached from the toner particle cloud develop the latent image. The electrode wires are adjustably supported in tension adjacent the donor member.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a donor roll advances toner to an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member. A plurality of electrode wires are positioned in the space between the donor roll and the photoconductive member. A support contacts the electrode wires at at least two points. One of the contact points is selected to minimize the wire edge angle between with the other of the contact points being selected to minimize the wire free span. In this way, edge banding and strobing effects are minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a donor roll advances toner to an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member. A plurality of electrode wires are positioned in the space between the donor roll and the photoconductive member. The electrode wires are tensioned. An electrical bias is applied to the electrode wires to detach the toner from the donor rolls so as to form a toner cloud in the space between the electrode wires and the photoconductive member. Detached toner from the toner cloud develops the latent image. Vibration of the electrode wires is detected in order to enable the vibration of the electrode wires to be substantially cancelled.

Abstract: A character printing and detection system in which a toner image is fixed to a sheet with each character of the toner image being inverted so that the normally leading edge of each character is the trailing edge. The toner image on the sheet is magnetized. The sheet of support material is re-inverted so that the leading edge of each character of the toner image fixed to the sheet of the support material is the trailing edge. The intensity of the magnetic field generated by each character of the toner image fixed to the sheet is detected to identify each character.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member with toner. Fluidized toner is transported from one end of the developer housing to the other end. A donor roller, spaced from the photoconductive member is adapted to receive toner and transport the toner to a development zone adjacent the photoconductive member. The excess toner is contained and diverted from the ends of the donor roller into the chamber of the housing. This insures that excess toner does not build-up on the sides of the donor roller resulting in the sides of the copy being background free.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member with toner. Fluidized toner is transported from one end of the developer housing to the other end. An electrical bias is applied between the toner mover and the donor roller so as to attract toner to the donor roller. A rotating rod resiliently urged into contact with the donor roller charges and meters the toner on the donor roller. Electrically biased wires in the development zone between the photoconductive member and the donor roller detach toners from the donor roll so as to form a toner powder cloud in the development zone. Detached toner from the toner powder cloud develops the latent image.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a donor roll advances toner to an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member. A plurality of electrode wires are positioned in the space between the donor roll and the photoconductive member. The electrode wires are electrically biased to detach the toner from the donor roll so as to form a toner cloud in the space between the electrode wires and photoconductive member. Detached toner from the toner cloud develops the latent image. A damping material is coated on a portion of the electrode wires. The damping material damps vibration of the electrode wires.

Abstract: A cleaning blade having a dual action cleaning blade. One side of the cleaning blade is coated with an abrasive material. The cleaning blade is used in an electrophotographic printing machine to remove residual particles from a photoconductive surface.

Abstract: A printing machine having a pair of photoconductive drums with a transfer roller interposed therebetween produces a full color document in two operating cycles. During the first operating cycle, a first color developed image is transferred from the first photoconductive drum to a sheet moving with the transfer roller. A second color developed image is transferred from the second photoconductive drum to the sheet in superimposed registration with the first developed image transferred thereto. During the second operating cycle, the foregoing process is repeated for a third color developed image and a fourth color developed image. In this way, a full color composite toner image is formed on the sheet.

Abstract: A developer unit which develops an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member used in an electrophotographic printing machine. The developer unit uses a developer material which ages during the life of the electrophotographic printing machine. Additional developer material having at least carrier granules and toner particles, is supplied to the developer material in the developer unit to extend the life of the developer material. Discharge of developer material from the developer unit is controlled by a permanent magnet and an electromagnet positioned adjacent an exit port in the developer unit. The permanent magnet generates a magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port to form a developer material curtain which prevents the passage of developer material from the exit port. When the electromagnet is energized, it generates a magnetic flux field which attracts developer material from the developer material curtain.

Abstract: An infrared densitometer which measures the reflectivity of a selected region on a moving photoconductive belt covered at least partially with marking particles. Collimated light rays are projected onto the selected region of the moving photoconductive member with or without marking particles thereon. The light rays reflected from the selected region of the moving photoconductive member are collected and directed onto a photodiode array. A photodiode array generates electrical signals proportional to the diffuse component of the total reflectivity of the selected region of the photoconductive member with and without marking particles thereon. Circuitry determines a control signal as a function of the difference in electrical signals.

Abstract: An apparatus in which successive developer units are moved to a development zone to develop, with different color toner, successive latent images recorded on a photoconductive member. At least four developer units move in unison with one another to index successive developer units into the development zone. The developer units translate horizontally to develop successive latent images. The first developer unit, third developer, fourth developer unit and second developer unit are indexed sequentially into the development zone to develop the first, second, third, and fourth latent images, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a sheet is advanced into registration with different color information developed on master sheets secured releasably on different drums. Each master sheet is secured to a gripper bar having outwardly extending pins. The pins in the master sheet gripper bars mount in holes in the drum and extend outwardly therefrom. A chain driven gripper bar advances the sheet into registration with successive master sheets. The sheet gripper bar is mounted pivotably and slidably on the chain. The sheet gripper bar has notches in the leading edge thereof to mesh with the pins extending from the master sheet gripper bar. This detachably couples the sheet and the master sheet to move in unison with one another. In this way, the sheet is placed in registration with the different color information developed on each master sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus in which successive toner images are transferred from a photoconductive drum to a sheet at a transfer zone. The sheet is transported by a perforated belt entrained about a stationary sleeve through a recirculating path. The sleeve has a plurality of spaced ports extending in and through the periphery thereof and connected to a vacuum source. In this way, the sheet is vacuum tacked to the belt to move in unison therewith in synchronism with the photoconductive drum. At the transfer zone, the sheet separates the belt and is interposed between the photoconductive member and a corona generator. The corona generator applies an electrostatic charge to the sheet to attract successive toner images thereto. The sheet moves with the belt in a recirculating path so that successive different color toner images are transferred thereto in registration with one another.

Abstract: A developer unit which stores a supply of developer material has a capacitance cell positioned therein contacting the developer material. The capacitance cell measures the change in capacitance of the developer material and generates a signal indicative thereof. The capacitance change is caused by a change in the dielectric characteristics of the developer material due to changes in the moisture content thereof. This signal, in combination with a signal indicating the concentration of toner particles in the developer material, is used to control various processing stations in the printing machine employing the developer unit.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a sheet is registered during the movement thereof. The sheet is moved along a path in a forward direction of movement and a lateral direction of movement substantially normal thereto. The lateral movement of the sheet causes the side edge of the sheet to engage a registration edge so as to be aligned thereat. The magnitude of the moving force applied on the sheet is proportional to the thickness of the sheet. In this way, the moving force varies as a function of the thickness of the sheet with the sheet slipping laterally when engaging the registration edge to prevent buckling thereof.