Abstract: A method and device for detecting the position of a transparent conveyor belt including directing light beams (2) onto the region of an edge (3) of the conveyor belt, detecting a jump in intensity of the light beam (2, 2′) as a consequence of the partial insertion of the conveyor belt into the beam path (2) and evaluating the detected jump in intensity in order to determine the position of the conveyor belt, wherein the light beams (2) are linear polarized light and the beam path (2) is directed at an angle or irradiation (&agr;) between 40° and 80° of the light (2) onto the bounding surface (7) in such a way that a high degree of reflection is achieved and reflected light and non-reflected light is detected.

Abstract: A heater roller assembly for use with a fuser apparatus includes a housing comprising a radiation shield enclosing a radiant heat source, and a heater roller that is disposed within the housing and is externally heated by the radiant heat source. The heater roller includes a core, a base cushion layer overlying the core, and an outer layer overlying the base cushion layer. The outer layer of the heater roller includes a fluorocarbon random copolymer having subunits of wherein x is from 10 to 90 mole %, y is from 10 to 90 mole %, x+y equal 100 mole %, and ORf is a perfluoroalkoxy group. A fuser apparatus includes a fuser roller whose outer surface is in contact with the outer layer of a heater roller included in a heater roller assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus automatically communicating status information relative to a document production job by a printer. An application file is provided that includes information to be reproduced as a document reproduction job. Preferably, the application file is encoded with a document description language. E-mail address information is embedded in the application file relating to the party or parties to receive the status information. The application file is sent to the printer. At the printer, the email address is detected. The application file is processed to produce a printed document and an email message is sent from the printer relative to the status of the document reproduction job.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting registration in a multicolor printing machine (1) having a number of exposure devices (2, 2′, . . . ) for the digital production of color separations (3, 3′, . . . ), the actions of setting up and combining the color separations (3, 3′, . . . ) being controlled, in order to set registration, such that in-register prints are achieved, influencing variables (4, 4′, 4″) which are caused by the printed pages and have an influence on registration being taken into account in setting up and combining the color separations (3, 3′, . . . ) before the onset of a change in said influencing variables. Therefore, no interruption of the printing process between two different printed pages (33, 34) is necessary.

Abstract: A photoreceptor cleaning brush for use in an electrostatographic imaging apparatus comprises individual fibers provided with a finishing agent comprising a water-miscible aliphatic organic compound containing a plurality of alcoholic hydroxy substituents. The finishing agent is selected from the group of compounds having a molecular weight of up to about 250 and polyethylene glycols having a number-average molecular weight of about 1000 to about 200,000. An improved electrostatographic imaging apparatus includes a photoconductive imaging element and a photoreceptor cleaning brush. The improvement comprises: the photoconductive imaging element having a photoconductive surface portion comprising a polycarbonate binder resin, and the cleaning brush comprising individual fibers provided with a finishing agent comprising a water-miscible aliphatic organic compound containing a plurality of alcoholic hydroxy substituents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting registration in a multicolor printing machine for the digital production of color separations, the actions of setting up and combining color separations being controlled when printing substrates of a different grade are fed in, in order to correct registration setting. In the event of a change in the printing substrate grade, the influence of this change on registration can be compensated for optimally before the printing substrate (16) is fed to the printing process. When the printing substrate grade is changed, the influence of all the properties of the printing substrate (16) that are relevant to registration is taken into account directly as the change is implemented, by correction values (4, 4′, . . . ) for the printing substrate (16) that are available before printing is carried out.

Abstract: For fusing toner images to receiver members, a fusing station is disclosed including an externally heated deformable fuser roller, and a relatively harder pressure roller. The fuser roller includes a core member, a base cushion layer around the core member, a heat storage layer around the base cushion layer, and a thin gloss control layer around the heat storage layer, which fuser roller has an improved fusing efficiency. A ratio of thermal conductivity of the heat storage layer divided by thermal conductivity of the base cushion layer is preferably in a range of approximately between 1.5-7.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing and controlling an alternating current with a direct current source in at least one inductive load, in particular for driving a stepper motor, preferably in microsteps.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and delivering individual sheets (14) within a final processing unit (11) downstream from a printing or copying unit (10). In the final processing unit (11) an input transport roller pair (15) is followed by a sheet transport track (18) having a stop surface (20) for lateral registration of the sheets (14) passing through, a working delivery surface (24) having a stop surface (22) for end-surface registration of the sheets (14) being arranged at the end of the sheet transport track (18). Arranged after the working delivery surface (24) is a final delivery container for the individual sheets or sheet stacks, which extends at a 90° angle to the sheet transport track (18).

Abstract: A magnetic brush development station includes, a housing forming a reservoir for developer materials. A plurality of augers are located in the housing for mixing developer material. A development roller is mounted within the housing for delivering developer material from the reservoir to a development zone. The development roller includes a core magnet inside a shell, having relative rotation. The core magnet extends less than the entire length of the development roller such that a developer nap on the shell does not extend to the respective ends. A metering skive controls the quantity of developer material delivered from the reservoir. A metering skive is positioned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the development roller at a location upstream in the direction of shell rotation prior to the development zone. A magnetic seal is located in association with the skive at each end to substantially prevent leakage of developer material.

Abstract: Detecting a transparent object, in particular a web or conveyor belt of a printing press with at least one radiation source and at least one receiver arrangement for receiving rays from the radiation source, whereby the light intensity change based on the transparent object is independent of the position of the major optical axis h of the transparent object. A particular embodiment envisages two &lgr;/4 small plates, which are each attached to one of two linear polarization filters, which intersect one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a single densitometer design that is used for all colors within multiple color image processing system. The preferred embodiment employs an LED having a light adjustment mechanism for controlling the amount of light received by a light detector in the densitometer. The coarse light adjustment is provided through a variable aperture. Fine light adjustment is accomplished through controlling the current through the LED, either by a potentiometer or through an automated process. Preferably, each of the LEDs is selected by wavelength to maximize the absorption by the colorant yielding light roughly complimentary to the colorant. The adjustment circuit provides advantage in color printing systems by allowing duplicate versions of the same densitometer circuit to yield similar voltage outputs for different colorants, thereby compensating for different absorption characteristics and light output of different colored LEDs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the linearity of elements within a printhead by applying a coarse electronic adjustment to rearrange the electronic printing of data into the proper pixel line and then applying a fine electronic adjustment to reduce the bow error to fraction of a pixel line. Delays of exposure control signals are used by the fine electronic adjustment to correct linearity by a fraction of a pixel line. The delays can be repeated to multiply the number of delays available and increase the linearity resolution. The delays can also be averaged between odd and even rows of elements to increase apparent resolution. The first embodiment employs digital circuitry to provide the fine adjustment of pixel data that is partially located on the interface board and partially located on the printhead substrate. This reduces the amount of circuitry placed within the ASICs on the printhead substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provision of a power supply that combines the advantages of current regulation with voltage limitation to enable corona chargers that can be run at higher current regulated set points for lower resistance sheets. The voltage limit will protect against arcing when high resistance media is used. This wider operation window can be provided without the need to track sheet types in the process and shift the operating set points, which would result in much more complicated machine control algorithms. The regulation and limit reference controls retain the ability of changing the operating set points of the power supply, such that it can be adapted to alternate physical configurations of the discharging system and the printing system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting registration in a multicolor printing machine (1), the print results on print substrates (4) being registered and used to control the production of color separations (3, 3′, . . . ) such that in-register prints are achieved. A change L? in the dimensions (7, 8, 7′, 8′) of the printing substrates (4) is determined by the print, in order to take this change into account such that coincidence can be achieved between a recto print and verso print. This is achieved by the changes in the dimensions (7, 8, 7′, 8′) of the recto print (6) being determined and being used to control the digital production of the color separations (3, 3′, . . . ) for the verso print (5) such that after being printed, it coincides with the recto print (6).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting register on a multicolor printing machine (1) having color printing units (6, 6′, 6″, 6″) allocated to various printing inks and having image cylinders (2, 2′), equipment (3, 3′) for producing images, in particular electrostatic latent images, on the image cylinders (2, 2′, . . . ), a carrier (4) for printing substrates (15) and image transfer points (5, 5′, 5″, 5′″) for the transfer of the color separations (7, 7′, . . . ) from the color printing units (6, 6′, 6″, 6′″) to the printing substrates (15), an allocation of the image productions (11, 11′) on the image cylinders (2, 2′, . . . ) to the printing substrates (15) being carried out in order to achieve coincidence of register of the color separations (7, 7′, . . . ) in the print. This is achieved by a time-independent allocation of the positions of the image productions (11, 11′, . . .

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacking device as well as to a method for depositing sheets on a stack. The task of the invention is to provide a stacking device that deposits sheets on a stacking unit quickly, cost effectively and reliably. The invention solves this task with a method for depositing sheets and a stacking device that contains two gripping devices for alternately gripping and depositing sheets.

Abstract: A conformable roller for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, said fusing station being provided with a pressure roller for fusing a toner image on a receiver, said fuser roller made from a plurality of layers surrounding an axis of rotation, said conformable roller comprising a rigid cylindrically symmetric core member; a compliant base-cushion layer formed on the core member; a stiffening layer in intimate contact with and surrounding the base-cushion layer; a compliant release layer coated on the stiffening layer; and said fusing station including an external heat source for said fuser roller, at least one of said plurality of layers being thermally resistive.

Abstract: A device for manual replacement and transport of a roller (1) of a copying machine, for example, which makes it easier and safer for service, replacement and transport of hot, heavy and large rollers. There is provided a protective container (5) which can be slipped over a roller (1), which has been released in the machine, and its carrying apparatus. The roller (1) can be removed from the bearing points (L1, L2) of the machine with the protective container (5) using its carrying apparatus which project out of the protective container, and can be inserted into the bearing points. Carrying handles for the carrying apparatus, enable the roller to be guided into slotted openings and, can be radially inserted into bearing points, and can be removed from them. A transport container (6) into which the protective container (5) provided with the roller (1) can be manually inserted and removed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an externally heated, external heater member for transferring heat to a fusing member used to heat fix a toner image to a substrate, such as a fuser employed in an electrophotographic process. The heater member includes: a core; a conformable base cushion layer overlying the core; and an outer layer overlying the base cushion layer, the outer layer comprising a cured fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer. In embodiments, the copolymer has subunits of: —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3))y—, and —(CF2CF2)z—, wherein x is from 1 to 50 or 60 to 80 mole percent, y is from 10 to 90 mole percent, z is from 10 to 90 mole percent, x+y+z equals 100 mole percent.