Abstract: A liquid ink imaging member having a top outer imaging surface is provided for receiving image forming ink droplets from a printhead. The liquid ink imaging member includes (a) a substrate member; (b) at least one elastomeric layer formed over the substrate member and including the top outer imaging surface; and (c) a surface texture formed into the top outer imaging surface and comprising asperities spaced apart at most from about one-half to about one pixel spot size for providing contact angle hysteresis to pin image forming ink droplets received thereon, thereby preventing ink droplet drawback, and resulting in quality images.

Abstract: In a high-speed phase change ink image producing machine having a printhead system and a controller, apparatus and method for melting solid phase change ink into melted molten liquid ink, and for controlling the melted molten liquid ink to achieve a high throughput rate of image production are provided.

Abstract: An ink jet printer including (a) a frame defining a sheet moving path and a printing zone; (b) copy sheet moving means for moving a supplied copy sheet along the sheet moving path and through the printing zone; (c) a printhead assembly mounted to the frame within the printing zone for printing liquid ink images onto one side of the supplied copy sheet; (d) electronic components including a controller connected to the sheet moving means and to the printhead assembly for controlling operations thereof; and (e) a dual function air cooling and drying system mounted to the frame for moving air to cool the electronic components and to then dry the liquid ink images on the one side of the supplied copy sheet, the dual function air cooling and drying system including conditioning means positioned between the electronic components and the liquid ink images on the supplied copy sheet for selectively varying a condition of air being moved from the electronic components to the liquid images.

Abstract: A tension and detensioning assembly includes a frame and a moveable tensioning roll for tensioning the continious loop belt. The moveable tensioning roll has an axis, a first end, a second end, a first position for tensioning the continous loop belt, and a second position when the continous loop belt is detensioned. When the moveable tensioning roll is in the second position, the first end is spaced a first distance from the first position, and the second end is spaced (from the first position) a second distance that is different from the first distance in order to enable safe, efficient and controlled, non-slipping removal and reinstallation of the flexible closed loop photoreceptor belt.

Abstract: A powered staple remover including an elongate member for holding between a thumb and fingers of a user's hand. The elongate member has walls defining a cavity, a first end, a second end, and an opening into the cavity through the second end. The powered staple remover also includes first and second staple crown grippers mounted within the cavity towards the second end, at least one gripper of the first and second staple crown grippers is moveable towards the other. The powered staple remover further includes a powered device connected to the at least one gripper for moving the at least one gripper from an open to a closed position, and from and towards the second end, thereby effortlessly and effectively removing a clinched staple from a stapled set of sheets without damage to the set of sheets. The powered staple remover includes an attaching device for attaching the elongate member to an electrostatographic reproduction machine.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction machine including a contact belt fusing apparatus for fusing copy sheets without belt skew defects. The fusing apparatus includes an endless fusing belt having an external fusing surface defining a path of movement and a plurality of support rollers for supporting and moving the endless fusing belt along the path of movement. The endless fusing belt as supported has a preferred fusing position properly aligned on the plurality of support rollers. The fusing apparatus includes a pressure roller forming a fusing nip with the external fusing surface of the endless fusing belt for contacting and moving toner image carrying sheets therethrough. Importantly, the fusing apparatus also includes a dual function belt deskewing and oiling assembly for oiling the external fusing surface of the endless fusing belt and deskewing the fusing belt from a sensed skewed position to the preferred fusing position.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction machine including a contact belt fusing apparatus for fusing copy sheets without belt skew defects. The fusing apparatus includes an endless fusing belt having an external fusing surface defining a path of movement and a plurality of support rollers for supporting and moving the endless fusing belt along the path of movement. The endless fusing belt as supported has a preferred fusing position properly aligned on the plurality of support rollers. The fusing apparatus includes a pressure roller forming a fusing nip with the external fusing surface of the endless fusing belt for contacting and moving toner image carrying sheets therethrough. Importantly, the fusing apparatus also includes a dual function belt deskewing and heating assembly for heating the external fusing surface of the endless fusing belt and deskewing the fusing belt from a sensed skewed position to the preferred fusing position.

Abstract: A multicolor image-on-image reproduction machine includes a main assembly, a controller, a movable image bearing member having a path of movement, and a plurality of air breakdown charge and development (ABCD) imaging units mounted along the path of movement for forming color separation toner images. Each (ABCD) imaging unit includes a photoreceptor having a photoconductive surface forming a toner image separation development nip with the movable image bearing member; a toner supply apparatus for applying a layer of toner onto the photoconductive surface; a charging device for uniformly charging the photoconductive surface through the layer of toner; and an exposure device connected to the controller for image-wise exposing of the photoconductive surface and the layer of toner to form therein image areas and background areas of a desired color separation image.

Abstract: A maintenance device includes a shuttle which is adapted to travel on a track through a fixed path generally parallel to the array. Mounted on the shuttle are an application, which includes a wicking member, for applying a cleaning liquid to the nozzle openings and a vacuum device for applying suction to the nozzle openings. A spacing member on the shuttle spaces the shuttle from the head to form a meniscus of the cleaning liquid against the nozzle openings of the printhead. The maintenance device is used in a cleaning method wherein a vacuum force is applied to the nozzle openings while moving the shuttle in a first direction, the surface is wetted by the cleaning liquid while moving the shuttle in a second direction, and the a vacuum force is again applied to the nozzle openings after the wetting while moving the shuttle in the second direction.

Abstract: An electrostatographic process cartridge detachably mountable into a cavity defined by mated modules forming parts of an electrostatographic reproduction machine. The process cartridge includes an elongate housing having walls defining a front end of the process cartridge, a rear end thereof, and a process chamber; a rotatable endless photoreceptive member having a closed loop path within the process chamber, and an image bearing surface for holding a formed toner image, and being mounted within the process chamber and towards the rear end for contacting a toner image receiving sheet moving along a machine sheet path for toner image transfer.

Abstract: A material re-aerating and flow control device for use in a material pneumatic processing system includes a housing defining a re-aerating chamber and having an intake end. The housing includes a material intake opening through the intake end of the housing for receiving material into the chamber. The material re-aerating and flow control device also includes a short hollow conduit member for discharging material from the chamber. The hollow conduit member includes a first end located outside the housing, and a second end, having a discharge port formed therethrough, mounted through the housing into the chamber. The material re-aerating and flow control device further includes a pneumatic conduit for introducing pressurized air into the chamber. The pneumatic conduit includes a first end located outside the housing, and a second end, having a pressurized air release aperture formed therein, mounted through the housing into the chamber.