Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately and quickly enabling a technical representative to diagnose the source (or identify the component(s)) that is the root cause of the motion quality defect being experienced to reduce down time of the printing machine. The output of an encoder on the photoreceptor, electronically measured, translates variations in the photoreceptor velocity into voltage. The voltage is then converted into frequency, using a Fast Fourier Transform, for comparison to a predetermined set of frequencies associated with defective drive components to identify the source of the motion quality defect.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning charged triboelectric negative toner residual particles from the photoreceptor surface. A positive bias is applied to two electrostatic brushes in the dual cleaning system or to a single electrostatic brush. The rotational speed of the single positive brush is increased, over that of the individual brushes in a dual brush cleaner, to clean charged triboelectric negative toner particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning particles from a surface using a floating backer and cleaning or spots blade mounted to allow freedom to follow the location of the imaging surface. The cleaning or spots blade controls tolerances when the blade and the floating backer are mounted to a frame pivoted from a fixed photoreceptor backer. This freedom allows a minimization of the tolerances in blade load against the surface or photoreceptor, the blade angle to the photoreceptor and in the location of the blade relative to the backer. This floating backer and blade mount also minimizes the wrap required on the photoreceptor backers adjacent to the blade.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for forming an electroform with a roughened surface. An electroform with a roughened surface is formed by plating a reusable mandrel with a roughened surface. The reusable mandrel surface is roughened using a sandblasting device. The surface of the reusable mandrel is coated with a dual catalyzed non-self regulating crack free chromium deposit and a surface preparation to maintain the roughened surface. An alternate embodiment of the reusable mandrel utilizes a stainless steel mandrel without the chromium deposit on the surface. The roughened electroform surface enables toner distribution and sealing of the toner distribution module.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing particles from a cleaner brush used to clean a photoreceptive surface. The apparatus and method include a cleaning brush or other cleaning device and a ceramic coated detoning roll resistive to wear. The detoning roll consists of a low electrically conductive coating over a conductive substrate material having a short electrical relaxation time constant.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for forming an electroform with a roughened surface. The present invention roughens the surface of the mandrel using a sandblasting device in the center region of the mandrel allowing the two end regions to remain smooth. The intersection of the roughened center region and each of the two end regions form a step. This step on either side of the roughened center region facilitates sealing while the roughened center region enables toner distribution. The electroform created using the step roughened mandrel surface is separated from the mandrel without destroying the mandrel. The step roughened mandrel can then be reused to create another electroform with a roughened surface.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for creating a nickel or like substrate encapsulated by another material to prevent wear to the nickel substrate. The encapsulation of the nickel substrate requires encapsulation of the inner and outer diameter of the nickel substrate. The encapsulating material must adhere to the nickel substrate. Encapsulation of the nickel substrate prevents exposure of the nickel and thus avoids the hazardous nickel dust particles that can occur when the nickel is exposed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retracting the cleaner from an imaging surface and preventing toner leakage. An apparatus and method that describes a DESB (i.e. dual electrostatic brush) cleaner in a multi-pass operation that not only has to clean the toner from the photoreceptor, but has to retract from the photoreceptor. The two brushes pivot about two defined pivot points in the cleaner housing during the retraction cycle to disengage from the photoreceptor during multi-pass operations. The first brush is pivoted up and the second brush is pivoted down. A further disclosure is the apparatus and method of using thin sliding and flexible plastic seals for a dual ESB that has moving (e.g. camming in and out) housings. The seals prevent leakage of the toner particles from the cleaner housing.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a six bar linkage cleaner brush retraction/engagement mechanism enables brush retraction (and engagement with the photoreceptor) while providing good control over the brush interference and the capability of changing all of the timing parameters through clutch actuation times in software and clutch shaft speed. The mechanism allows the brushes to retract and engage the photoreceptor independently of one another with relatively soft contacts to the photoreceptor to minimize impacts to photoreceptor motion quality. A four position clutch is used to provide magnetic pole sensor outputs to the system controller to decide when the clutch, which drives the six bar linkage, is engaged and disengaged. The index wheel of the clutch has four equally spaced magnets that are located relative to the retraction crank shaft so that there is a significant amount of time between detecting a pole and the corresponding desired state. An encoder is used to monitor the mechanical drift of each cleaner state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating the accumulation of triboelectric negative toner that occurs between the cleaning edge of the cleaning blade and the photoreceptor surface. After image transfer, the residual toner particles on the photoreceptor surface are then charged to a uniform polarity using either a preclean corotron or a biased conductive blade. A UCA is used to dislodge the residual toner particles away from the photoreceptor surface. The polarity of the particles is opposite to that of the collection roll positioned to attract the toner particles levitated by the UCA onto the collection roll.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning particles from the imaging surface of the photoreceptor is by having a DC biased electrostatic brush remove the majority of the residual particles on the imaging surface with an AC biased brush as a follow-up for removal of residual particles. These particles have a predominant electrical polarity of right or wrong sign charge. The degree to which this AC biased brush removes each sign toner is controlled by the duty cycle. The responsibility of the first brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is reduced by reducing the brush biases, the speed or the photoreceptor interference (BPI) of the first brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor and allowing the second brush to take on higher percentage of the cleaning load. This enables longer brush life and reduces detoning stress. Alternatively, the second brush may increase in latitude, leaving the first brush parameters unchanged, enabling superior cleaning performance or reduced brush costs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stopping rotation and retracting a cleaning brush away from contact regions to avoid the occurrence of flat spots or voids in the cleaning brush and prevent toner emissions from the cleaning brush as it is retracted. The cleaning brush is rotated about a pivot point to move the cleaning brush away from contact with the photoreceptor and the detoning roll. The pivot point is positioned so that the variation in interference to the detoning roll is minimized for variations in the interference and location of the brush against the photoreceptor. Each cleaning brush has a housing that moves in conjunction with the movement of the cleaning brush in order to avoid contact between the housing and the cleaning brush. This cleaning apparatus also enables development of multi-layer color images.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that describes utilizing a corrugation slip nip system, including a variable force idler that encompasses three stages, to prevent buckling of copy sheets traveling at a high rate of speed upon exiting from a high speed printing machine to the exit tray for stacking. Buckling concerns are eliminated by allowing the sheet, driven by a high speed positive drive nip, to slip through the slower speed corrugation nip, yet still having enough drive force in the slip nip to drive the sheet into the exit tray. In order to vary the normal force on the sheet, a three stage variable force idler is used. The first stage oversizes the inner diameter of the idler rollers on the idler shaft. The second stage uses a slot in the spring which allows the idler shaft to move upward without deflecting the spring. These first two stages are particularly adapted for light weight paper.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for increasing brush life and reducing emissions by removing accumulated toner using detoning cycles. A further embodiment of the disclosure is a method for periodic brush-reversing detoning cycle occurring during a standby condition.

Abstract: A method and solenoid assembly for extending the wear life of the solenoid. These include: enabling rotation of the solenoid plunger within the solenoid housing to expose a new solenoid plunger surface when solenoid plunger surface reaches a failure mode; reducing and/or eliminating side load on the solenoid; reducing the clearance or tolerance between the solenoid housing and the solenoid plunger to reduce solenoid wear; and a stop feature improvement with less stress concentration.

Abstract: A method to evaluate the cleaning performance of brush cleaners by measuring the brush to photoreceptor nip width (e.g cleaning footprint or contact zone) using an ESV sensor or ETAC sensor. This nip width measurement is automatically made using one of the sensing devices. The nip width measurement is converted into diagnostic information using a software algorithm or similar mode of conversion. The diagnostic information can be used in a variety of ways such as a diagnostic tool for a technical representative to warn against the end of brush life, to adjust cleaner biases for automatic changes in setup to achieve better cleaning, to predict brush replacement, to correct brush BPI (i.e. brush to photoreceptor interference) for an under or over engaged brush.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning residual particles from a surface that includes a cleaning brush with a fiberless segment and a fiber segment. These two segments enable the cleaning brush to both clean the surface with the fiber segment by rotating the cleaning brush and prevent cleaning when the fiberless segment is stopped, during development, in the home position. The fiberless segment, in the home position, enables image on image development, without retraction of the cleaner brush, by positioning the fiberless segment of the brush directly opposite to the surface where the image has being developed by image on image.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and color printing machine having an ultrasonic cleaner and a cleaning blade is disclosed for removing residual toner, toner additive films, spots and comets off the imaging surface. The toner additives used during development leave more than one layer of toner additive films on the surface. An ultrasonic cleaner that has a tip velocity ranging from about 1500 mm/sec to about 3000 mm/sec is used in combination with a blade that has sufficient hardness to remove the thick toner additive films without damaging the surface. The build up of toner additive films cause copy defects. The vibrational motion of the ultrasonic cleaner reduces friction between the blade and the surface and enables the dislodgment of toner additive films, spots, comets and residual toner off the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning triboelectric negative toner particles from the photoreceptor surface without the need of a preclean corotron. To remove the residual particles, a first cleaning brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is negatively biased to remove the positive (+) toner and charge the toner particles negative. Then, the second brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is positively biased to remove the residual negative toner particles from the surface as the second brush contacts the surface.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for identifying cleaner retraction timing faults in an electrostatographic printer. A toner image or patch is developed on the photoreceptor during the non-printing mode of the printer. After cleaning by a retractable cleaner, the portion of the image or patch not cleaned is measured and compared to a predetermined length in order to determine cleaner retracting timing faults in the cleaner subsystem.