Abstract: A cleaning station for removing particulate material from a moving web in an electrostatic printer/copier includes a customer-replaceable web-cleaning cartridge and a support bracket/backup shoe assembly. The latter serves to support the cleaning cartridge for movement between an operative position in which web-cleaning components of the cartridge exert a substantially uniform pressure on the web, and a service position in which the cartridge is sufficiently spaced from the web to facilitate replacement and/or service. Preferably, a bracket that supports the cleaning cartridge is pivotally connected to a backup shoe that is fixed with respect to the web path and exerts a uniform pressure on the rear surface of the web, opposite that contacted by the cleaning cartridge. A quick disconnect feature enables the cartridge-supporting bracket to be de-coupled from the back-up shoe and removed from the instrument.

Abstract: A method for the calibration or recalibration of a conversion factor (web encoder resolution), used to determine the distance covered by a print substrate in a printing machine, in particular an electrophotographically operating printing machine, by the cycles of a rotary input type of encoder (web encoder) which sends a signal to the driver of the conveyor belt, preferably the rotation of a rotating drive component for the conveyor belt. This task is solved in that the number of phase pulse signals of the rotary input type of encoder which accumulates during the movement over the dimensions of the longitudinal extension known or otherwise measured section of the conveyer belt, is determined and compared to the known dimensions of the longitudinal extension.

Abstract: The position of sheets in a printing press is measured. A problem in transporting sheets through the printing press is how to guarantee the correct orientation and lay of the sheets, which must be guaranteed particularly in the printing operation. There is provided a device for precisely determining and correcting the positions of sheets in printing presses. Margin regions of a sheet are respectively imaged, projection data are transmitted to a computing unit, and the position of the sheet is calculated with the aid of the projection data by way of an image recognition algorithm. Furthermore, the computed positions of the sheet are compared to positions which are stored in the computing unit, and from the comparison, position deviations are computed, which are transmitted to the printing press and corrected by way of a sheet registration device.

Abstract: Printers wherein a snub pulley gripping the conveyor belt from below changes contact force, a first register error occurs; and due to change of the spacing between the image lines on the sheet change, a second register error occurs. To prevent the first register error, time-lags of the first start signals (START OF FRAME) for the application of image lines are changed; and to prevent a second register error, time-lags of the second start signals (START OF LINE) for the application of image frames are changed.

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: Transporting an essentially sheet-like element, particularly for transporting a sheet of printing material in a printing press, in which the sheet-like element is picked up in the area of its leading edge by at least one rotating transport at a pickup site, transported to a delivery site, and then delivered there, wherein the sheet-like element is curved over a rotational or curvature radius during transport. The sheet-like element is forced between the pickup site and the delivery site by at least one guide element, that is, an intermediate guide element, that blocks at least in the centrifugal direction, in order to maintain the radius of curvature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a predetermined load to a roller in a printer and/or copier apparatus comprises supporting a first member relative to a frame, the first member including a driver element; advancing the driver element under a first force to establish a spring force in a spring; the driver element being stopped by a stop member to isolate any variability in the first force from affecting the spring force; providing a force receiving surface secured to said roller; engaging the force receiving surface with a second member, the second member being connected to the spring so as to provide a loading force to the roller.

Abstract: A fuser member comprising a core and a layer overlying the core, the layer including a cured fluorocarbon random copolymer having subunits of: —CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3)y—, or —(CF2CF2)z—, wherein x is from 30 to 90 mole percent, y is from 10 to 70 mole percent, z is from 0 to 34 mole percent; and x+y+z equals 100 mole percent; the layer further including particulate filler having zinc oxide and yellow iron oxide.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and device for register mark setting of a printing press for multicolor printing. A calibration run is used for the calibration of register frames, and the correction data produced by the calibration of the frame is used to calibrate the register mark keeping of individual lines or areas of lines from the printing modules of the printing press, whereby the data of the register marks are detected to determine the correction data and are set in relationship to positions of an illustration drum and/or a separation drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying potential problems within systems having rotating biased components. The system employs diagnostics to the rotating biased components to provide status feedback to the machine's control unit when any type of bias fault has occurred. The system then responds to this fault signal making it possible to stop operation and alert the machine operator. The present invention also discloses a method for detecting open load, over load, shorted load and intermittent contact with the load or arcing conditions, as well as power supply output failure in a bias system. A digital signal that may be may be sensed by interrupt or sampling methods and filtered appropriately with software is provided to a machine control system. The result is that bias failures may be detected automatically by machine control. The system also provides a method to alert the operator service personnel on which area of the machine to service.

Abstract: Manufacturing a coating for an impression cylinder whereby a carrier and a cylinder shape is provided. A hollow cylinder is positioned between the carrier and the cylinder shape, and material to form the coating in the spaces is introduced between the carrier and the hollow cylinder (the internal field) and between the hollow cylinder and the cylinder shape (the external field). The hollow cylinder is removed at a certain pre-selected velocity from between the carrier and the cylinder shape.

Abstract: A replenishment receptacle for containing particulate material and replenishing the particulate material into a reservoir. The replenishment receptacle includes an enclosed container with an orifice for filing and removing particulate material and a closure with a slide cover for closing and sealing the container. Tab-like features on the closure, for locating it to the reservoir during transfer of the particulate material from the receptacle to the reservoir, are uniquely shaped and located for low cost manufacturing. The slide cover for closing and sealing the receptacle has a cellular urethane foam gasket bonded to the inner side and ramp-like features on the outer side to capture the slide cover, thus preventing it from being removed from the closure. In one embodiment the enclosed container and closure have features which engage and lock together the enclosed container and closure, thus preventing them from working loose and leaking during shipping and handling.

Abstract: Internally-heated external rollers transfer heat rapidly to a fuser roller in an electrostatographic printer. Stored media process set points, input image content, and input media type data are used to regulate the heat transfer rate by varying the nip width between the heated external rollers and the fuser roller. The rate of heat transfer and the rate of heat transfer adjustment are sufficiently rapid that many different media weights and types may be mixed in a print run without restrictions on media run lengths, without collation requirements per run, and without productivity losses due to slowing of feed rate for heavier receivers.

Abstract: A fuser member comprising a core and a layer overlying the core, the layer including a fluorocarbon random copolymer, a curing agent which cures the fluorocarbon random copolymer, the cured fluorocarbon random copolymer having subunits of: —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3))y—, or —(CF2CF2)z—, wherein x is from 30 to 90 mole percent, y is from 10 to 70 mole percent, z is from 0 to 34 mole percent; x+y+z equals 100 mole percent. The layer further including a particulate filler having aluminum oxide, having a total concentration in the layer of from 10 to 140 parts by weight per 100 parts of the fluorocarbon random copolymer, and alkaline earth metal oxides or alkaline earth metal hydroxides or combinations thereof; and siloxane polymer comprising one or more curable, silanol-terminated, polyfunctional poly(C1-6 alkyl)siloxane polymers.

Abstract: An electrostatographic toner composition consists essentially of noncrosslinked linear polymeric toner particles, about 0.7 wt. % to about 4 wt. % of hydrophobic silica particles disposed on the surface of the toner particles, and about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. % of particles of a fatty acid metal salt disposed on the surface of the toner particles, wherein the weight percentages of the hydrophobic silica particles and the particles of a fatty acid metal salt are based on the weight of the polymeric toner particles. An electrostatographic developer is formed by mixing the toner composition so prepared with hard magnetic carrier particles. A process for forming an electrostatographic toner composition comprises: providing noncrosslinked polymeric toner particles of a selected particle size, and dry blending the polymeric toner particles with a mixture consisting essentially of about 0.7 wt. % to about 4 wt. % of hydrophobic silica particles and about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt.

Abstract: A method for producing a replaceable fuser member including a thin, seamless or welded high temperature nickel sleeve, a base cushion positioned around the sleeve and an outside topcoat applied over the base cushion elastomer layer. The sleeve is replaceable on a machine mandrel positioned in an electrophotographic copying machine in a fuser section of the electrophotographic copying machine. The method includes the use of a mandrel having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the sleeve to support the sleeve during positioning of a cured base cushion layer around the sleeve and a cured topcoat layer over the cured base material.

Abstract: In a process for forming a self-dispersing crystalline phthalocyanine pigment composition of monodisperse nanoparticles, a mixture containing titanyl fluorophthalocyanines, unsubstituted titanyl phthalocyanine, and an organic monomeric dispersant but substantially free of organic solvents or inorganic salts is dry milled, thereby forming a substantially amorphous phthalocyanine pigment composition. The substantially amorphous composition is contacted with an organic solvent having a hydrogen bonding parameter gammac lower than about 8, thereby forming a self-dispersing cocrystalline phthalocyanine pigment composition of monodisperse nanoparticles containing titanyl fluorophthalocyanines and titanyl phthalocyanine, which can be used to form the charge generation layer of an electrophotographic element.

Abstract: In an apparatus for cleaning particulates from a moving web, a dust seal blade assembly which is easily mounted to a cleaning blade to reduce internal dusting in the cleaner apparatus and for trapping of lint, paper dust, or fibrous material and which might also reduce the effects of oil contamination. The arrangement provides a low-cost, operator-replaceable cartridge having one or more wiper blades with at least one of them having the dust seal blade assembly and enclosed within a particle sump assembly that is easily removed from association with the web being cleaned.

Abstract: A conditioning device to change the moisture content of printing stock, in which the stock is brought into contact with at least one endless cloth that absorbs moisture. The endless cloth is heated by heated transport rolls. A reduction of the moisture content contributes to a reduction of distortions of the printing image in two-sided printing, especially in digital printing machines.