Abstract: Sieve screen level sensing in a filtering apparatus (10) for filtering fine powder material (M) which includes a sieve (12) having a material inlet (24) and a material outlet (26), and a sieve screen (14) is disposed within the sieve (12) between the material inlet (24) and outlet (26) such that the material (M) must pass through the sieve screen (14) to enter the material outlet (26) and thereby exit the sieve (12). An input valve (22) controls the flow of material (M) into the sieve (12) through the material inlet (24). A sieve screen level sensor assembly (20) senses a level of material (M) accumulated upon the sieve screen (14), and issues a level sense signal (66) indicative of that level. A programmable logic controller (60) receives the level sense signal (66) and controls the inlet valve (22) dependent at least in part thereon to thereby control the flow of material (M) into the material inlet (24).

Abstract: Manufacturing a coating for an impression cylinder whereby a carrier and a cylinder shape is provided. A hollow cylinder is positioned between the carrier and the cylinder shape, and material to form the coating in the spaces is introduced between the carrier and the hollow cylinder (the internal field) and between the hollow cylinder and the cylinder shape (the external field). The hollow cylinder is removed at a certain pre-selected velocity from between the carrier and the cylinder shape.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer is configured to print a three-dimensional texture on a substrate by applying clear toner in locations corresponding to where texture is desired. The clear toner for texture may be applied either after, or before, other colors (e.g., CMYK) are applied to the substrate. The clear toner may be applied during the same pass as the other colors in an electrophotographic printer (10) having five imaging units (20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K, and 20X). Alternatively, the clear toner may be applied during a second pass of the substrate through the electrophotographic printer (10) if, on the first pass, all five imaging units are occupied with different colored toners. An electrophotographic printing system that includes a front-end station for scanning a document coupled to an electrophotographic printer (10) allows an operator to add texture to a scanned document.

Abstract: Preparing substrates for one-sided or two-sided printing in an electrophotograpically operated digital printing apparatus, in which process substrates are fed out of a supply unit or several supply units onto a conveyor operation sequence and are transferred, preferably in the course of the conveyor operation sequence, onto a conveyor belt that runs through a printing unit, with the least possible space between successive substrates. An acceleration time related to the type of substrate stock, of which the substrate is composed, is selected for feeding a substrate from a supply unit or from the supply unit.

Abstract: An external heater for a fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser member for fusing a marking particle image to a receiver member. The external heater has a heat transfer surface adapted to be selectively engaged with the fuser member, and a device for heating said heat transfer surface. A mechanism is provided for engaging a variable portion of the heat transfer surface with the fuser member to selectively change the amount of heat transferred from the heating device to the fuser member through the heat transfer surface.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for handling bulk particulate material (M) includes a reservoir hopper (16) having a gas-permeable liner (42) and a gas inlet (44) connecting the reservoir hopper (16) to a pressurized flow of gas sufficient to fluidize the material (M). A transition and pipe assembly (18) receives a flow of material (M) from the reservoir hopper (16). The transition and pipe assembly (18) has an outer conduit (54), an inner conduit (52), and at least one gas inlet (64). The outer conduit (54) is substantially impervious to gas whereas the inner conduit (52) is permeable to gas. The inner conduit (52) is disposed within and surrounded by the outer conduit (54). The gas inlet (64) connects the outer conduit (54) to a pressurized flow of gas to fluidize the material (M) within the inner conduit (52). A variable orifice non-contact valve (24) controls the flow of material (M) from the transition and pipe assembly (18).

Abstract: A speed control mechanism for a reproduction apparatus including a fuser assembly having pressure, applying members in nip relation to apply pressure to a receiver member bearing a marking particle image to fuse such marking particle image to such receiver member transported through the fuser assembly. The speed control mechanism has an input device for storing parameters required for fusing particular types of receiver members under various desired conditions, and a device for determining fuser control parameters, including overdrive effect, based on information from the input device and selection of a particular receiver member type and certain conditions. A fuser assembly controller then sets fusing parameters based on the determination by the determining device, and adjusts the transport speed of a receiver member through the fuser assembly to compensate for the determined overdrive effect.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for adjusting dry ink concentration in a developing station (30) of a printer is disclosed. The adjustment is performed by calculating the thermal drift of a dry ink monitor (40) and applying the result as a compensating factor in calculations in a software algorithm. The dry ink monitor (40) has a sensing port (42) in contact with a dry ink concentration and is connected to a dry ink monitor interface board (10) that houses a temperature sensor (20). The monitor interface board (10) is positioned in proximity to the dry ink monitor (40) to enable the temperature sensor (20) to measure a temperature of the dry ink concentration. The software algorithm is used to adjust the dry ink concentration based on a slope coefficient calculated by the printer based on outputs from the dry ink monitor (40) and the dry ink monitor interface board (10).

Abstract: Apparatus for precisely positioning one or more of the work stations of a document printer/copier relative to an internal drum, including a first member, attached to either a work station or the internal drum, having two sections, each section having a reference surface forming an angle therebetween, an actuator for changing the included angle between the first reference surface and second reference surface, thus enabling the included angle to be increased or decreased, and a second member having a reference surface that mates with the pair of reference surfaces, associated with the other of the work station or the internal drum, so as to accurately adjust the work station relative to the internal drum dependent upon the included angle of the first reference surface and second reference surface.

Abstract: In replacing a sleeve on a printing machine drum, the diameter of the drum is reduced by moving the drum parts toward one another to facilitate removing the sleeve, and/or mounting another sleeve onto the drum, and increasing the drum diameter by moving the drum parts away from one another.

Abstract: A double-sleeved roller (DSR) including: a mandrel having a disconnectable end incorporating three termination plates having specified axial profiles; a replaceable inner sleeve member (ISM) mounted on the mandrel; and, a replaceable multilayer outer sleeve member (OSM) including at least one synthetic layer with the OSM surrounding the ISM. The mandrel, adapted to support a non-reinforced ISM, includes the termination plates joined together so as to define two sets of channels for selectively conveying pressurized air to either OSM or ISM for radial expansion thereof. The termination plates have specialized outer shapes, with each termination end plate including a cylindrical portion adjoining a tapered portion. For removal and/or replacement of the OSM or the ISM, a removable support member is moved away from the disconnectable end of the roller while the other end of the roller continues to be supported in cantilever fashion.

Abstract: A method and control device for determining a register error, whereby at least one register mark is printed and at least one sensor records the register mark, whereby the sheet edge of the sheet is recorded by the sensor, and the register error is determined from the sensor data and the target data.

Abstract: A non-contact valve (24, 26) for controlling the flow of particulate material (M) includes a body (102) and a gas-porous element (106) associated with the body (102). A first orifice (122) is defined by the gas-porous element (106). The gas-porous element (106) directs a flow of pressurized gas into the first orifice (122). A plug member (104) receivable within the first orifice (122) is movable into and out of the first orifice (122). A channel (C) is conjunctively defined at least in part by the first orifice (122) and the plug (104). The channel (C) defines a flow path (124) for the particulate material (M). The length of the channel (C) is adjusted to thereby adjust the velocity of gas flowing through the channel (C) and, thereby, adjust the flow of material (M) therethrough.

Abstract: A belt fuser/finisher including an endless fusing/finishing belt directed around a closed loop path defined by a heated roller and at least one unheated roller. The endless fusing/finishing belt and rollers are mounted on a belt frame that is pivotally attached to a mainframe. The belt frame may be rotated from a latched running position to service position, and the tension in the endless fusing/finishing belt can be relieved, thereby enabling the endless fusing/finishing belt to be easily removed and replaced.

Abstract: A module, included in an electrophotographic printer, for making toner images by a method in which transfer current for electrostatic transfer of toner images to receiver members is adjusted to compensate for ambient variations of toner charge-to-mass ratio (q/m). A predetermined functional relationship between transfer current and a control voltage parameter is utilized. Magnitudes of the control voltage parameter are derived from voltage measurements relating to creation of toner control patches on a photoconductive image-recording member included in a modular electrophotographic printer. Control voltage magnitude is linearly dependent on q/m. The functional relationship, which is characterized by three experimentally determined parameters, is co-optimized for providing efficient transfer of toner images and for minimizing back-transfer of toner away from a receiver member in a transfer station included in the module.

Abstract: Reducing variation in the surface temperature of an externally-heated fusing roller in an electrophotographic machine, the variation typically occurring during the beginning of a fusing run, by detecting the beginning of a fusing run and applying a modified fusing temperature set-point characteristic to the fusing roller. The mode of the electrophotographic machine is monitored to determine whether the machine has changed operating modes, and the application of the modified fusing temperature set-point characteristic to the fusing roller is ceased when the electrophotographic machine changes modes. The force with which the heating rollers engage the fusing roller is controlled within desired operating limits.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to detect and measure, in a non-image area on a toner-image-bearing member, a low coverage of toner particles relating to a background coverage of toner particles in an image frame, and in particular, to detect and measure by an optical detector a low toner coverage in excess of a threshold coverage or a pre-selected coverage and thereby produce a signal, e.g., a process control signal. Such a process control signal can be used to adjust the operating parameters of a process in a subsystem, such as a toning process or a photoexposure process. In preferred embodiments, synchronous detection is used to extract a signal having a magnitude proportional to the low toner coverage representative of the background coverage of toner particles.

Abstract: A variable torque device for maintaining constant tension in a web of material as the web is unwound from a supply roll. The variable torque device includes a lead screw attached to the shaft of the supply roll via an appropriate gear ratio. A coil spring is located between a hub on the lead screw and a set of rings and friction pads. As the lead screw rotates, the hub translates, thus changing the displacement of the coil spring, which in turn changes the loading of the rings and friction pads. With a full supply roll the coil spring is compressed so as to create an amount of torque to create the desired web tension. As the supply roll unwinds, the rotation of the lead screw translates the hub to expand the coil spring, reducing the torque and maintaining the web tension constant.

Abstract: A microwave arrangement for affixing the toner onto a printing material by heating, wherein a resonator chamber for feeding printing material therethrough includes at least one element, which extends into the resonator chamber and is used for tuning the resonance state in the resonator chamber. The element includes at least a first portion of a material with properties that essentially do not absorb the microwave radiation and a second portion of a material with mechanically stable properties and a slightly higher absorption of the microwave radiation than the first portion.

Abstract: An electrophotographic machine includes a fusing station configured for fusing an image to an image substrate by applying fusing process parameters to the image substrate. A controller adjusts the fusing process parameters applied to the image substrate dependent at least in part upon whether the image substrate is to be processed by a glossing station to thereby reduce undesirable image artifacts that result when an image contaminated with release fluid is fused and then glossed.