Abstract: An apparatus for removing back-plated developer from a development device includes a shaft, cleaning media mounted about the outer surface of the shaft, means for loading the cleaning media against the development device, and means for rotating the shaft and the cleaning media, wherein the cleaning media removes back-plated developer from the development device. The cleaning media may include a fiber material having a plurality of flow paths. A fluid flow means can be provided to deliver a cleaning liquid to the cleaning media to flush at least a portion of the removed back-plated developer from the cleaning media.

Abstract: An imaging system and method incorporate an apparatus and method for cleaning developer liquid from an imaging substrate such as a photoreceptor.

Abstract: A container and liner combination includes an interlock feature. Multiple sheets of photosensitive material are placed on the liner. The container has a base in which the liner is positioned. The base has a interlock feature and the liner has a mating interlock feature. The interlock feature prevents movement of the liner in the feed direction as well as in a direction opposite the feed direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing an excess amount of a liquid coating material from portions of a moving web following coating of the moving web with the liquid coating material along a coating path. A vacuum head having a suction slot is defined by upstream and downstream walls and adapted to be movably positioned in an inoperative position away from the coating path and in an operative position contacting at least a portion of the liquid coating material on the moving web along the coating path, the downstream wall positively displacing a portion of the liquid coating material when the vacuum head is positioned in the operative position. A suction mechanism is operatively coupled to the vacuum head for establishing a vacuum manifold within the suction slot and communicating with a disposal system. A supply of liquid is operatively coupled to the vacuum head for supplying liquid to the suction slot.

Abstract: A development apparatus for developing a latent electrostatic image on an imaging substrate in a liquid electrographic imaging system includes a cleaning roller for removing back-plated developer from a development device such as a development roller, and a squeegee apparatus for.sub.-- removing both "drip-line" developer liquid and "wrap-around" developer liquid from the imaging substrate. The squeegee apparatus may include a squeegee roller having a crowned profile and a loading mechanism configured to achieve a uniform loading force across a pressure nip formed between the squeegee roller and the imaging substrate. The cleaning roller may include a fiber cleaning media and fluid delivery means for flushing back-plated developer from the cleaning media. The development apparatus also may include means for spacing the development apparatus relative to the imaging substrate without contacting the imaging substrate, thereby avoiding disruption of the motion quality of the imaging substrate.

Abstract: A squeegee apparatus and method for removing excess developer liquid from an imaging substrate in a liquid electrographic imaging system make use of a squeegee roller having a core with a crowned profile. With determination of a proper loading force, the squeegee apparatus and method achieve substantially uniform loading force along the length of the squeegee roller, and thus along the width of a nip formed along an the imaging region of the imaging substrate. As a result, the squeegee apparatus and method provide substantially uniform removal of developer liquid from the imaging substrate, enhancing quality of an ultimate printed image.

Abstract: A system for registration of color separation images on a photoconductor belt in an imaging system operates to detect a position of an edge of the photoconductor belt. The registration system detects the position with the same laser scanner used for forming latent images on the photoconductor belt. The registration system includes a belt steering control system that steers the photoconductor belt based on the detected position to reduce deviation of the belt from a continuous transport path. The registration system also may include a scan control system that, based on the detected position, controls the modulation of laser beams scanned to form latent images on the photoconductor belt. By controlling belt steering and laser beam scanning, the registration system maintains the image quality of a final multi-color image upon transfer of registered color separation images to an output substrate.

Abstract: A vapor control system and an electrophotographic system having a vapor control system for reducing vapor emissions. A vapor collection mechanism collects at least some of the vaporized carrier which is then transmitted to a container having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet containing a cooling liquid, the cooling liquid having a temperature less than the temperature of the vaporized carrier but greater than zero degrees Centigrade. A vapor inlet located at a point below the surface of the cooling liquid results in the vaporized liquid bubbling through the cooling liquid and being condensed therein. The cooling liquid is immiscible with water and, preferably is the carrier liquid. Mechanical resistance devices promote increased bubble residence time and smaller bubble size.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning and scheduling resource requests to resource providers use a modified "best-first" search technique that combines optimization, artificial intelligence, and constraint-processing to arrive at near-optimal assignment and scheduling solutions. In response to changes in a dynamic resource environment, potential changes to an existing assignment set are evaluated in a search for a better solution. New calls are assigned and scheduled as they are received, and the assignment set is readjusted as the field service environment changes, resulting in global optimization. Each search operation is in response to either an incremental change to the assignment set such as adding a new resource request, removing a pending resource request, reassigning a pending resource request, or to a request for further evaluation. Thus, the search technique assumes that the existing assignment set is already optimized, and limits the task only to evaluating the effects of the incremental change.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing back-plated developer from a development device includes a shaft, cleaning media mounted about the outer surface of the shaft, means for loading the cleaning media against the development device, and means for rotating the shaft and the cleaning media, wherein the cleaning media removes back-plated developer from the development device. The cleaning media may include a fiber material having a plurality of flow paths. A fluid flow means can be provided to deliver a cleaning liquid to the cleaning media to flush at least a portion of the removed back-plated developer from the cleaning media.

Abstract: A bag and a method of packing a bag for storing sheets of material, such as photosensitive materials, provides a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material. The bag has a rear end which has a serpentine passageway, thereby creating a light-tight end as well as allowing for entrapped air to exit the cavity of the bag.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing excess developer liquid from an imaging substrate make use of a squeegee roller, and a mechanism for loading the squeegee roller against the imaging substrate. The squeegee roller removes the excess developer liquid from the imaging substrate at an upstream side of the squeegee roller relative to a direction of movement of the imaging substrate. A portion of the excess developer liquid can pass to a downstream side of the squeegee roller, however, and be transferred from the squeegee roller to the imaging substrate. A second developer liquid removal mechanism is provided to remove from the imaging substrate the portion of the excess developer liquid transferred from the squeegee roller. The second developer liquid removal mechanism may include a second squeegee roller mounted at a position adjacent the downstream side of the first squeegee roller.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing an image on plain paper from image data using a photoreceptor. An image-wise distribution of charges is produced on the photoreceptor corresponding to the image data. A liquid ink having solid charged pigmented particles, the liquid ink having an effective glass transition temperature of less than 25 degrees Celsius is applied to the photoreceptor forming an image-wise distribution of the pigmented particles on the photoreceptor to form the image. The liquid ink has greater than seventy-five percent by volume fraction of solids in the image. A film forming means is positioned against the photoreceptor immediately following the application means to dry the image of the liquid ink to film forming within 0.5 seconds. The image is dried on the photoreceptor. The image is then transferred to an elastomeric transfer roller which forms a first transfer nip under pressure with the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A detector plate for use in a radiation imaging system includes a first conductive layer, a dielectric layer, a photoconductive layer and a second conductive layer, arranged as a stack in that order. The first conductive layer and the dielectric layer are substantially transparent to radiation energy so as to allow the energy to pass therethrough to be received by the photoconductive layer. The first conductive layer has a periphery defined by a first edge and the dielectric layer has a periphery defined by a second edge, wherein the first edge is offset inward of the second edge defining a margin between the first and second edges. In use, this margin helps inhibit electrical arcing from the first conductive layer to the second conductive layer when a high voltage is applied between these two layers.

Abstract: An apparatus continuously smoothes a wet coating of magnetizable particles and binder on a moving flexible web. A first longitudinal end of a flexible film is held in contact with the wet coating on the substrate and is free to drag against the wet coating. The first longitudinal end is deflected toward the substrate along a line extending transversely between the first and second transverse ends. The amount of deflection is adjusted and varied during coating to adjust the radius of curvature of the deflection of the first longitudinal end. A smoothing bar or a cylindrical rod, with or without a sharp edge, can hold the flexible film in position. The deflection and adjustment can be performed by a screw. Alternatively, a cylindrical rod is used by itself.

Abstract: Temperature control apparatus for controlling the temperature of an electrically heated moveable object such as an electrically heated rotatable drum. A temperature control mechanism, rotatably mounted in conjunction with the cylindrical drum and electrically coupled to the electrical heater, controls the temperature by controlling the flow of electricity to the electrical heater in response to control signals. A temperature sensor mechanism, rotatably mounted in conjunction with the cylindrical drum and electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, senses the temperature of the surface of the cylindrical drum and produces temperature signals indicative thereof. A microprocessor, non-rotatably mounted with respect to the cylindrical drum, controls the temperature of the electrically heated drum by generating the control signals in response to the temperature signals.

Abstract: A solid state radiation detection panel adapted to receive radiation, having a plurality of modules positioned immediately adjacent each other, with each of the plurality of modules having an array of photosensitive detectors arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each of the photosensitive detectors having a radiation sensitive area; and circuit means for selectively addressing one of the photosensitive detectors by addressing one of the plurality of rows and one of the plurality of columns and reading the output of the one of the array of photosensitive detectors where each of the plurality of modules being arranged in a three dimensional structure in which the array of photosensitive detectors is arranged on a planar first surface of the module covering substantially the entire area of the planar first surface. The circuit means is located within the module in an area away from the planar first surface opposite from the received radiation.

Abstract: An imaging system employs a photoconductive material capable of bearing a latent photostatic image, a plurality of elongated parallel electrodes adjacent the photoconductive material, selective scanning of the individual electrodes to produce charge carriers within the photoconductive material, and time-ordered detection of the current created by the charge carriers in the plurality of elongated parallel electrodes. Dynamic rearrangement of the detection pattern for individual electrodes allows for detection from effective electrodes wider than the individual electrodes. Appropriate addressing of the effective electrodes during the scan produces a pixellated representation of the latent image having selectable resolution and reduction of edge-effect artifacts of known systems.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for characterizing a full color gamut of a digital photosensitive color proofing system having at least two separately controllable process parameters uses a one page color standard for calibrating the full color gamut. The one page color standard includes a plurality of color density test areas on the page, with each color density test area having a test patch for each colorant printed at a selected color density that is within a range of color densities, and a plurality of tone rendition test areas on the same page. There is one tone rendition area for each of the color density test areas, and each tone rendition test area has a plurality of test tints for each colorant as a primary color and a plurality of test patches for a set of secondary colors composed from combinations of the primary colors.