Abstract: Classifying and detecting original images on a roll of film so that a photographer can describe and identify to the photofinisher the type of images of interest to the photographer and to identify which images by category on the roll of film are to receive certain customer requested procedures such as multiple prints, enlargements or no printing of that image at all.

Abstract: A toner container has an opening through which toner is dispensed. It is covered by a web seal which is removable by an operator to dispense the toner. A cleaning edge is positioned to engage the seal as it is removed and clean toner off the seal to prevent its soiling the hands or clothing of an operator removing it.

Abstract: Residual toner on a photoconductive or intermediate image member is adjusted in charge prior to cleaning by a roller which is rolled by the image member. The roller is biased to either apply charge to the toner or reduce charge, depending upon the type of cleaning. The roller includes a compliant blanket made of polyurethane covered by a thin coat of material having a Young's Modulus greater than 1.times.10.sup.7 Pascals.

Abstract: Magnetic carrier particles are removed from a photoconductive image member by subjecting the carrier particles to a magnetic field while or after exposing the photoconductive image member to erasing radiation in the absence of a substantial electrical field affecting the carrier particles.

Abstract: To assist transfer of toner images from a first transfer surface to a second transfer surface, the first transfer surface is actively cooled to prevent the toner sticking to it. Preferably, the cooling is accomplished by thermoelectric control device strips positioned in heat conducting relation with the first transfer surface. A thermoelectric control device can also be used to heat a second or receiving surface to which the toner is to be transferred to farther assist the transfer process.

Abstract: A process and system for inhibiting toner offset in a electrostatographic apparatus of the kind wherein toner images are contact fused to a copy sheet. Drops of offset inhibiting liquid are discretely directed to predetermined locations on the contacting surface of the apparatus fuser member. For example, a drop on demand, piezoelectric drop generator can controllably jet drops of silicone oil to form desired offset inhibiting patterns in accord with apparatus control signals, indicative of particular copy sheet and image requirements.

Abstract: A fuser includes both a fusing roller and a fusing belt, each separately engageable with a pressure member forming first and second nips for applying a finish to a toner image. The first nip between the fuser roller and the pressure member can provide a matte or textured finish to a print while the second nip between the belt and the pressure member provides a high gloss finish. The fusing roller engages the pressure member through an opening in the belt when the belt is stopped with the opening properly positioned. The fuser roller backs the belt when the belt is being used for fusing or finishing.

Abstract: Diffractive lenses having gradial zones (62, 70, 78, 90, 98, 106, 114) are formed by separately, sequentially spin casting and polymerizing successive radial zones of the lens to produce optical phase differences of 2.pi. between adjacent gradial zones. Diffractive lenses may be molded in plano-plano(60), plano-concave (68) and plano-convex (76) geometries and also may be combined with conventional plano-plano (84), convex-convex (92), plano-concave (100) and plano-convex (108) refractive lenses.

Abstract: A system for assisting the transfer of a toner image formed by electrostatographic apparatus and process to a copy sheet. The transfer assistance system and process utilize drop generators to form a release liquid pattern for joining with such toner image and a supply mechanism delivers release material, e.g., heat wax material, to the drop generators. In a preferred mode release liquid is applied, in a patterns customized to toner patterns, to an intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A development station for applying dry toner to an image member includes a rotatable magnetic core and an input skive to determine the height of the developer nap on a shell surrounding the core. Toner flakes showing up in the toner application on the image member are substantially reduced by replacing a previously metallic skive with a non-conductive skive to prevent heating of the skive from eddy currents created by the rotating core.

Abstract: A zoom lens particularly usable in a color printer includes a first movable negative unit, a second movable positive unit and a third fixed unit. The third fixed unit has a single meniscus lens component having front and rear surfaces with a curvature within eight percent of each other. Preferably, the second movable positive unit includes a negative element having an Abbe V number between 41 and 47, which is part of a cemented triplet having Abbe V numbers higher than that of the negative element.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus creates two toner images on a single portion of an image member. The first toner image formed has multiple density levels. It is recharged before creating the second toner image. An aspect of the potential associated with the toner in the first toner image after the recharge step is monitored and used to control the process, for example, by setting a development bias on a development station used to tone the second toner image or by controlling the recharging step.

Abstract: A container for supplying toner includes a containing portion with an opening through which toner is moved into a receiving sump. A cover for the opening is flexible enough to move in an arcuate path from a position coveting the opening to a position of storage alongside a sidewall of the containing portion. The cover is stiff enough to be pushed back to its covering position. The leading edge of the cover in its movement back to its coveting position is made concave to the direction of movement so that it will more easily enter a channel partially defined by a seal around the opening. A protrusion on the cover enters a hole in a cover holding member when the cover is in its coveting position to lock the cover in place when the container is not on a receiving apparatus. The protrusion can be pushed out of the hole, unlocking the cover by an appropriate receiving member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting apparatus which includes a cutter. A pair of sensors is used to detect a lead edge of an image located on a receiver sheet. In response to the sensors the cutter and the lead edge of the image are aligned. The receiving sheet is transported in a direction essentially perpendicular to the cutter. The cutter cuts the receiving sheet adjacent and parallel to the lead and trail edges of the image. A cut lead edge of the receiving sheet is edge registered. A third sensor detects edges of the image perpendicular to the cut lead edge of the image. A second cutter, responsive to the third sensor, cuts the receiving sheet adjacent edges of the image perpendicular to the cut lead edge of the image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is particularly usable with a relatively stiff receiving sheet. In one embodiment, it includes a transfer member around which the receiving sheet is attached. To maintain good contact between the receiving sheet and the transfer member, a pair of rollers are positioned to engage the receiving sheet in non-imaged margins to hold it intimately to the transfer member. The sheet may also be engaged at other positions in its path in the non-imaged margins to control its movement. In another embodiment, corona applied to the sheet before separation from the transfer member is specially biased to discourage premature or excessive separation because of the stiffness of the sheet. The bias can be then changed to encourage separation if a more flexible receiving sheet is used.

Abstract: A toner image is transferred from an image member to a receiving sheet using a backing member or corona charger to which a constant current source is applied for creation of a transfer electrical field. A logic and control receives an input indicative of the width of the receiving sheet and adjusts the current applied by the constant current source accordingly. Preferably, the logic and control also has an input indicative of the resistance of the receiving sheet, for example, determined by determining relative humidity and/or the thickness of the receiving sheet, which also is used with the width input to adjust the current applied by the constant current source.

Abstract: A method of forming duplex color images on a receiving sheet passes the receiving sheet through a fuser twice for the first image and once for the second image. The process includes the step of determining which of the toner images should have a higher gloss and forming that toner image first so that it receives the greatest fusing energy. Preferably, the determining step is accomplished by determining which image receives more photographic content.

Abstract: An electrostatic printing apparatus includes the capability of effecting both thermal assisted transfer and electrostatic transfer and also either area modulation exposure, density modulation exposure or a combination of both area and density modulation exposure. The apparatus is usable with area modulation exposure while imaging on thermoplastic coated receiving material is accomplished preferably with thermal assisted transfer and density modulation exposure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer station having a transfer member and an erasing irradiation source. Variations in resistance of the transfer member due to relative humidity, age or the like, or of the receiving sheet are compensated for by adjusting the irradiation source to maintain consistency in the response time of the transfer field.

Abstract: A compact, simple real image finder includes an objective, a field lens, erecting optics and an eyepiece. The field lens is separated from an internal image sufficiently that it contributes substantially to the magnification of the finder.