Abstract: A fusing belt comprising a substrate and a coating on the substrate wherein the coating comprises a resin containing a cured silsesquioxane polymer and wherein the belt is used in combination with a photographic element.

Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus having a logic and control unit, and a fuser assembly including a heated fuser roller and a sensor for sensing the temperature of such fuser roller by utilizing heat to change sensor resistance to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the fuser temperature, for the logic and control unit, a method for detecting erratic resistance in the temperature sensor. The method includes the steps of, at preselected time intervals, comparing a current temperature reading to a previous temperature reading, and determining if the temperature sensing system indicates that the temperature has changed by more than a predetermined amount based upon reproduction apparatus operating characteristics. If the temperature sensing system indicates, from the determining step, that the temperature has changed by more than a predetermined amount, an indication that an error has occurred is made.

Abstract: A copier or a printer 10 includes a controller 16/30 with a rendering algorithm that groups sets of adjacent pixels into sets of adjacent cells where each cell corresponds to a halftone dot of an image. The algorithm operates in conjunction with a gray scale printhead 22. In sending data to the printhead, the controller 16 parses a scanned image and set the exposure for each pixel in accordance with a growth and density program. The algorithm selectively grows halftone dots from zero size to a desired size equal to or less than a maximum size. It repeats this step for the rest of the pixels until the cell is at its desired size and at an initial density. If a higher density is desired, the algorithm selectively adjusts the fully grown cells by sequentially increasing the level of exposure of each pixel in the cell. The image is developed with developer including a hard magnetic carrier and toner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes apparatus for agitating toner contained by a relatively large toner container (e.g., 10-25 liters in volume). Such apparatus includes a substantially vertically-oriented shaft supporting s blade member that operates, as the blade rotates, to drive the contained toner mass upwardly, thereby aerating the mass and preventing compaction during toner dispensing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes apparatus for drawing ambient air in a vertical direction, preferably upwards, through a relatively large toner container (e.g., 10-225 liters in volume). The air-flow is sufficient to fluidize the toner in the container and thereby prevent compaction. Such fluidization is optionally supplemented by the action of an auger or propeller mechanism mounted within the container. During rotation of the auger/propeller, the toner is lifted and thereby further prevents toner compaction.

Abstract: A process is proposed for the double-sided printing and/or coating of a substrate using at least one liquid or dry toner that has at least one polymer. It is provided that at least one toner layer or a first image that has at least one toner layer is transferred onto a first side of the substrate. Then, the toner is heated up to at least its glass transformation temperature, and fixed onto the substrate. In the process, the original glass transformation point of the toner shifts to a higher temperature level as a result of the cross-linking of its polymer chains, and the viscosity is increased. In a second processing step, at least one toner layer or a second image is transferred onto the second side of the substrate and heated up to a temperature that is equal to or greater than its glass transformation temperature.

Abstract: A delivery system (1) for flat material (2), in particular sheet paper, with a guideway (3) and at least two glide elements (4) extending in the direction of conveyance (10), whose surface (5) opposite the guideway (3) is elevated in construction and the guideway exhibits substantially reduced friction vis-a-vis the flat material.

Abstract: Setting registration, with detection of the entry of a printing substrate (2) into a printing machine (1) and calculation of the beginning of digital production of color separations (3, 3′, 3″, 3′″) to achieve an in-register position of the color separation prints (4, 4′, 4″, 4′″) on a printing substrate (2). This is achieved by the printing substrate (2) being detected before it enters the printing machine (1) and, following this detection, the relative positions of the color separations (3, 3′, 3″, 3′″) being calculated, and by precise detection of the leading edge (5) of the printing substrate (2) being performed as it enters the printing machine (1) and being made the basis for determining the starts of the production of the color separations (3, 3′, 3″, 3′″), their relative position having been precalculated.

Abstract: A method and structure for a cleaning a roller in an imaging apparatus includes the steps of providing a cleaner assembly with a skive blade in contact with the roller and forming a slot in a casing of the cleaner assembly. The skive blade can be selectively mounted on and removed from the cleaner assembly.

Abstract: Generating and adjusting temperature values (T1, T2, T3) in a fixing roller (FR), which is mounted in a copy machine, can be switched to various operational states (W, A, and F) and can be used for fixing of toner images transferred on imaging materials (P). The fixing roller can be heated by a heating unit (H1) connected to a control/adjustment unit (CU), can be switched to generate and adjust predetermined temperature values (T1, T2, T3), and its heating level (Ph) can be regulated. The temperature values (T1, T2, T3) at the outer surface (FS) can be measured by at least one temperature sensor (ST). The outer surface of the fixing roller can be cooled by blowing airflow (AJ, AJ1-3) supplied by a controllable cooling unit (CO). The cooling unit (CO) creates a cooling strip (CA, CA1-3) on the outer surface of the fixing roller, and the blowing air level (Pc) can be controlled and adjusted by a control/adjustment unit acting upon the compressed air source (BL, AS).

Abstract: A method and structure for an image processing apparatus includes an image transfer substrate, a cleaner adjacent the substrate and sensors within the cleaner is disclosed. The cleaner removes contaminates from the substrate and sensors within the cleaner. The sensors detect a position of the cleaner with respect to the substrate, a proper rotation of components within the substrate, and a proper bias of the components. The components include a fiber brush, a detone roller, and an auger.

Abstract: A method and structure for a conductive fur brush cleaner assembly for an image processing apparatus is disclosed. The cleaner assembly comprises a plurality of rotating components, an insulated outer cover surrounding the rotating components and a conductive inner cover surrounding the rotating components. The insulated outer cover prevents a charge from being bled from the conductive inner cover. The conductive inner cover accumulates a charge from the waste particles within the cleaner assembly such that the inner cover becomes biased.

Abstract: A method and structure for a detone cleaner assembly for an image processing apparatus includes a drive motor, a plurality of rotating components, and a current sensor for sensing a current being drawn by the drive motor. The rotating components form a serial connection to distribute a rotational force produced by the drive motor.

Abstract: A method and structure for an image processing apparatus that includes an image bearing surface adapted to receive electrostatically charged toner, a cleaning brush adapted to remove waste particles from the image bearing surface, a detone roller adapted to remove the waste particles from the cleaning brush, and a speed controller adapted to maintain a rotational speed of the cleaning brush above a minimum speed below which the waste particles would not be removed from the image bearing surface and below a maximum speed above which the waste particles would be thrown from the cleaning brush.

Abstract: A method and structure for a conductive fur brush cleaner assembly for an image processing apparatus is disclosed. The cleaner assembly has a casing, a plurality of rotating components within the casing and a plurality of sealing devices that divide the casing into a scavenging zone and a detone zone. The sealing devices prevent airborne waste particles from traveling from the detone zone into the scavenging zone.

Abstract: A method and structure for an image processing apparatus includes a photoconductive surface adapted to receive an electrostatic charge from a charging device, and a contamination control apparatus adjacent the photoconductive surface. The contamination control apparatus has an input air port and an output air port that produce an air current that removes contaminates from an area near the charging device.

Abstract: A composition for electrostatographic toner particles includes an organic binder polymer and a dye having the structure wherein Z represents a thiazole moiety II

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing voltage swings within device outputs from reading output node where swings in excess of certain voltages can harm electronics attached to the output node. Specifically, output swings from devices performing logarithmic operations are prevented from reaching the input of an A/D converter, thereby protecting the A/D converter from the large swings possible in logarithmic outputs. A comparator circuit compares the output from the logarithmic amplifier against a threshold and engages the switching mechanism once the threshold is reached. Once the switching mechanism is engaged it applies a predetermined voltage to the output node in place of the true output voltage from the logarithmic amplifier.

Abstract: A mechanism for replenishing particulate material from receptacles to a reservoir, which provides a highly accurate and continuous indication of the amount of particulate material remaining in the housing of the replenisher mechanism. The replenisher mechanism includes a housing having a plurality of discrete sensors for sensing the level of particulate material within the housing, a delivery assembly which provides flow communication of particulate material between the housing and a remote reservoir, and has a delivery assembly sensor that senses the amount of particulate material delivered by the delivery assembly. A logic and control unit operatively connected to the housing level sensors and the delivery assembly sensor continuously determines the amount of particulate material remaining in the housing so as to indicate when, and how much, particulate material to add to the housing.

Abstract: This invention discloses 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 imaging and alert the machine operator that bias faults may adversely affect the image quality of the prints being produced. 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.