Abstract: A system and method for managing production printing workflow is disclosed. The system includes workflow management software which manages and facilitates the procedural stages of the workflow including job originations job preparation, job submission and job fulfillment. The workflow management software provides an integrated object oriented interface which visually reflects and interacts with the workflow. Further the disclosed system facilitates efficient use of output resources by optimally utilizing resources with different output capabilities to produce output optimized for those capabilities. Further the disclosed system and method facilitates seamless integration and automation of dividing production among multiple output resources and re-assembling disparate production into the finished product.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning and removing particles from a printer machine quietly and efficiently with a variable speed blower whereby the blower can operate in a reduced power mode during normal operation and in an increased power mode for special cleaning operations in the printer machine.

Abstract: A method and system of customizing a print job includes receiving an input of an application file. A preferential printing feature is selected from a group of preferential printing features. The printer driver associated with the preferential features is applied to the application file. The application file is printed using the printer driver.

Abstract: An optical device for indicating the position of a flexible web in a machine. The device is mounted in a fixed bracket and a collimated beam is reflected from the web onto a screen to produce a visible light spot. The location of the light spot on the screen is directly related to the position of the web.

Abstract: A high speed copier 10 has a transfer roller 42 and a cleaning brush 52. The cleaning performance is improved when the engagement of the two rollers exceeds a first threshold T1. Their engagement is maintained below a stall threshold T2.

Abstract: A mechanism for applying pressure load force in a reproduction apparatus fuser device having at least one heated fuser member and a pressure member in nip relation to permanently fix a marking particle image to a receiver member. The pressure load force applying mechanism includes a load cam selectively rotated about a drive shaft, the cam having a wide constant radius section to have a wide tolerance in the stopping position. A cam follower member is associated with the load cam. A force of the load cam is applied via the cam follower member. A control mechanism is provided for the load pressure applying mechanism. The control mechanism includes a raised section at each end of the constant radius section of the load cam to act as stops for the follower.

Abstract: A copier/duplicator machine having a pressure roller system including two load arms for engagement with pressure roller bearings on each end of the pressure roller wherein the load arms include locator plates positioned on their outsides and extending beyond an engagement surface on each load arm and toward and past engagement surfaces on the pressure roller bearings to restrict the positioning of the load arm engagement surfaces so that the load arms can be installed only in proper engagement with the pressure roller bearings on the ends of the pressure roller.

Abstract: A system for assessing the performance of an electrophotographic marking machine is provided, wherein data from several different inputs are gathered in two distinct sets having different frequencies. A high-frequency data set includes parameters typically recorded with each print made, and provide an electrophotographic history which is used in deducing the cause of malfunctions. The lower-frequency data are typically recorded at the time of each autosetup, and provide electrophotographic trend information which is used as a predictor of component and consumable lifetimes. In each data set, only data over an appropriately selected period maintained on a first-in, first-out basis. This system has the advantage of simultaneously providing an intensive recent history for tracing faults, and enabling long-term trends to be discerned without being buried in a redundant excess of data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polyurethane elastomers and shaped articles prepared therefrom comprising charge-control agents to provide electrical conductivity to the elastomers, thereby allowing for their use in electrophotographic processes. The elastomers comprise a polyisocyanate prepolymer, a polyether prepolymer, and a hardener mixture comprised of at least one additional polyol and a charge-control agent. When used in an electrophotographic process, the elastomers are capable of exhibiting resistivities of less than 6×109 ohm-cm for 600,000 images or more.

Abstract: A scanner having a serviceable circuit board assembly with a stair-stepping configuration. The scanner has a card cage for mounting circuit boards in the rear of the scanner. The card cage has an access opening. A first circuit board and a second circuit board are mounted inside the card cage. The first circuit board forms a notch. The second circuit board has a viewable portion that is viewable and accessible through the access opening and the notch. The test points and light emitting diodes are positioned within the viewable portion of the second circuit board.

Abstract: To allow for the flexibility of printing the tab contents on any one of the tab pages of an ordered tab set, a flag or marker indicating that a page contains a tab plus the information that needs to be rendered on the tab inside the PDF page is stored in memory. This enables the user to move this page around in the document or even copy it to a different document without losing this information. Once the document containing such pages is to be printed, a print output module goes through the PDF document and produces the tabs in the correct locations on the tab pages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending the useful life of a fuser roller having ends, a length greater than a central portion of the fuser roller, the central portion of the fuser roller having ends, and end portions of the fuser roller extending from the ends of the central portion of the fuser roller to the ends of the fuser roller, at least a portion of the fuser roller being coated during operation with a release agent by contact with a wick roller, the wick roller including a porous ceramic wick roller body having ends, a length greater than a central portion of the wick roller, the central portion of the wick roller having ends, a release agent supply line in fluid communication with a central cavity in the wick roller body, a release agent impermeable coating over lengths of the wick roller body between the ends of the wick roller and the ends of the central portion of the wick roller, and a release agent transfer surface over the outside of the wick roller and the release agent impervious coating by pos

Abstract: An electrophotographic print engine has a variable primary charger and toning bias which places the machine in abnormal reproduction modes in order to provide service and diagnostic information to troubleshoot subsystems involved in the electrophotographic process.

Abstract: A fuser section for an electrophotographic apparatus which includes a lower skive plate which can be quickly installed and removed without damaging the fuser roller. The skive plate carries a plurality of skives which strip a sheet of paper from the fuser roller during operation of the apparatus. To install the skive plate, forward latch pins are positioned in guide tracks on the fuser section and the plate is moved forward and downward while maintaining the plate in a substantially horizontal position thereby keeping the sharp skives clear of the fuser roller during installation. As the skives approach the fuser roller, rear latch pins on said skive plate are first latched to the fuser section after which the forward latch pins are latched thereto with the skives now riding on said fuser roller. To remove the skive plate, this procedure is reversed.

Abstract: Electrostatographic recording method and apparatus that includes a primary image-forming member (PIFM) which moves along a closed path at high-speed. The PIFM may be in the form of an endless belt, which has a row of image frame synchronizing indicia. The indicia are spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the PIFM. The indicia are not all uniformly spaced from one another so that an interframe area larger than other smaller interframe areas on the PIFM can exist. During a production run toner images are formed on the image frames by sensing the image frame synchronizing indicia. The larger interframe area is provided preferably at a splice or seam area to provide sufficient time for a change in a process element for which sufficient time is not available at a smaller interframe area.

Abstract: The fusing assembly in an electrophotographic copier has a paper travel path passing between a pair of opposed air cooling plenums. Each plenum has an air supply plate confronting the travel path with slots for directing cooling air onto the moving paper. The lower plenum plate includes upstanding ribs parallel to the paper travel path for guiding the moving paper and spacing the paper from the plate to improve airflow by decreasing airflow impedance.

Abstract: A mechanism for sensing the pressure in the offset preventing oil delivery system for the fuser assembly of a reproduction apparatus. The pressure sensing mechanism includes a pressure-sensing gauge operatively associated with the offset preventing oil delivery system. A pressure sensing circuit includes a pressure gauge port for converting detected pressure from the pressure-sensing gauge into a corresponding electrical signal. Responsive to the electrical signal, the pressure sensing circuit calculates a delta voltage between when the oil delivery system is operating and when the oil delivery system is not operating, and determines whether the delta voltage system is within a specific operating range. A logic and control unit, responsive to the electrical signal, monitors the electrical signal from the pressure sensing circuit to ensure that the offset preventing oil is being properly delivered to the oil delivery system.

Abstract: Conductive hard magnetic carrier particles are disclosed which contain a single-phase hexagonal crystal structure doped with at least one metal that, upon substitution of said metal into said crystal structure, produces a multi-valent ion of the formula Mn+, wherein n=4, 5, or 6. The carrier particles are useful in making developers for the development of electrostatic latent image patterns in an electrographic process. Also disclosed are methods for using such carrier particles in an electrographic process. Such carriers can display levels of conductivity such that the development efficiency, i.e., speed, of an electrographic process is improved.

Abstract: Conductive hard magnetic carrier particles are disclosed which are useful for development of electrostatic latent images. The carrier particles comprise a core of a hard magnetic material, preferably a hard magnetic ferrite such as strontium ferrite, which has a metal oxide composition disposed on the outer surface of the core. The metal oxide composition comprises a layer of an oxide of at least one metal, and in some embodiments, the metal oxide composition may be represented by the formula MOn/2 where M is at least one multi-valent metal represented by Mn+ where n is an integer of at least 4. Also disclosed are carrier particles having the foregoing structure wherein the outer surface of the core further defines a transition zone which extends into the core of hard magnetic ferrite, wherein the ferrite crystal structure within the transition zone is doped with multi-valent metal ions of the formula Mn+, where n is an integer of at least 4.