Abstract: A composition for combating toner marking, in the form of a particulate material dispersed in release agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning a moving transport web for neutralizing or modifying polar charge density and net charge density on the moving transport web included, for example, in an electrostatographic printer. The web conditioning includes a charging station which has a first stage including two open-wire AC corona chargers facing one another across the transport web, and downstream, a second stage including two gridded AC corona chargers facing one another across the transport web. The grids of the gridded AC corona chargers are preferably grounded, the AC waveforms for energizing the corona wires of the open-wire chargers and the gridded chargers are preferably quasi trapezoidal with no applied DC offsets, with preferably preselected asymmetries in the spacings from the web in the first and second stages. The first stage accomplishes at least about 80% of said neutralizing of said polar charge density.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing replenishing of an inventory for serviceable equipment that requires fewer orders of replacement parts and resulting shipments from the provider of the parts to the inventory location by tracking parts in accordance with a predefined parameter to estimate current and future needs of the serviceable equipment.

Abstract: A fuser release agent dispensing system for a rotatable fuser, including a transfer stage and a metering stage. The transfer stage includes a first roller having a surface rotatable about a fixed axis, and a second roller positionable for contacting the first roller. The second roller is positionable against the fuser roller. The first roller is driven by the fuser roller and it, in turn, drives the second roller. The metering stage includes a sump for supplying release agent, a metering roller with a surface for removing release agent from the sump and a translational assembly configured to move the metering roller surface into and out of contact with the first roller surface. The amount of fluid release agent transferred from a sump to a fuser is controlled in response to a change in one or more image reproduction parameters.

Abstract: A method for fixation of toner on a carrier or printing stock wherein the printing stock with toner is exposed to at least one radiation pulse or radiation flash of electromagnetic radiation and heated for melting of the toner, and a toner having a sharp transition from its solid to liquid state when heated is used. The toner is preferably characterized by the ratio of the value of the elastic modulus G', at the reference temperature value calculated from the initial temperature at the beginning of the glass transition of the toner plus 50° C., to the value of the elastic modulus G' at the initial temperature itself, is less than 10−5.

Abstract: In an electrographic reproduction apparatus having a media transport mechanism for transporting media into operative association with a plurality of different color electrographic process modules, a mechanism for providing image density control signals to the logic and control unit. At least one densitometer is provided for sensing image density control patches on the media transport mechanism and producing signals representative of the density of the such image for the logic and control unit.

Abstract: An automatic process of setting control set-points, control rates, calibrations, timing parameters and maximum density levels for color modules within a color print engine by utilizing addressable settings of multiple configurable parameters for each color module. The parameters can be independently controlled and maintained. Each color module maintains a list of parameters by storing the parametric values in a non-volatile memory. At initialization, the parameters for each module are read out of the non-volatile memory to set the correct settings for the specific color module.

Abstract: A paper transportation trolley with first guide members on the paper transportation trolley and second guide members on a coupling device of the printing machine for locking the paper transportation trolley to, and releasing it from the printing machine. The paper transportation trolley is movable over the coupling device, the first guide members sliding over the second guide members and the paper transportation trolley is connected to the coupling device by a retainer device.

Abstract: A run length compression technique, that raster image processes page elements into a plurality of groups of raster data and analyzes the groups of raster data for a predetermined set of parameters. An assignment of compression states is made in accordance with results of the analysis for characteristics of transparency, constancy of a value for the groups of raster data, or features within the groups that should not be compressed.

Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus having a rotatable imaging roller upon which an image is formed, and a rotatable transfer roller for transferring an image from the imaging roller to a receiver member, a device for mounting the transfer roller to substantially compensate for changes in engagement between the imaging roller and the transfer roller during image transfer. The mounting device includes a bearing assembly for supporting the transfer roller for rotation. A flexible member is associated with the bearing assembly. The flexible member provides movement of the bearing assembly by urging the bearing assembly in a direction to maintain, at least over a limited distance, the transfer roller in constant force engagement with the imaging roller so as to substantially prevent any change in the angular speed relationship therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting the location of an edge (2) of a transparent, anisotropic material (3,3′) comprising at least one sensor (1) with a light source (4), two polarization filters (6,7) with transmission axes (8,9) meeting at a 90° angle as well as a light detector (10), whereby the light source (4) and one polarization filter (6) are located on one side of the edge (2) to be detected and the second polarization filter (7) and the light detector are located on the other side. This type of device is to be configured in such a way that it can be used for detecting material (3,3′) with optical axes (14) in various directions without requiring assembly. This is achieved by at least one of the sensors (1) being configured and/or adjustable so that various angles (32) between the transmission axis of the first polarization filter (6) and the optical axis (14) of the transparent, anisotropic material (3,3′) are possible.

Abstract: A charging device assembly used within a reprographic machine having a hollow shell containing the charging device, an attachment mechanism that retains the charging device relative to the hollow shell in a predetermined position, a pair of end covers at either end of the hollow shell and an electrical connector on the shell coupled to the charging device. The hollow shell can be conductive or insulative and is formed with features that facilitate easy mounting and removing of the elements of the charging device assembly.

Abstract: With a fuser apparatus, for example having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween, to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, a skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser apparatus roller from the roller, and a mechanism for applying a release oil to the fuser rollers. The skive mechanism includes a plurality of skive fingers formed as elongated, thin, flexible members located so as to engage the fuser apparatus rollers in a manner so as to substantially prevent damage to such associated fuser apparatus rollers. Each of the skive fingers have capillary micro-grooves formed therein for the purpose of channeling release oil away from the respective skive finger tips, thereby substantially eliminating image degradation by build up of the release oil.

Abstract: A mechanism by which meta-data may be created and associated with a given page description language file. This meta-data could be considered as either a page description language complexity or raster image processor time estimate. The meta-data is derived via a complexity factor and (optionally) an accuracy factor. The meta-data may be utilized for raster processor page/surface ordering, preflight optimization, viewing optimization, or other embodiments.

Abstract: Printers wherein a stub 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 or frames are changed.

Abstract: An electrostatographic machine having a transfer station including a toner image carrier and a transfer member for electrostatic transfer of toner from the toner image carrier to a toner-image area on a receiver sheet in a nip formed between the toner image carrier and the transfer member. Receiver sheet has a leading edge included in a leading edge margin area and a trailing edge included in a trailing edge margin area. A programmable power supply supplies and controls transfer station current. Before the leading edge enters the nip and after the trailing edge leaves the nip, but not while the toner-image area is in the nip, transfer station current is successively switchably altered by the programmable power supply between at least two predetermined magnitudes. The transfer station current is preferably zero, of a low magnitude, in at least a portion of the leading edge margin area so as to effectively suppress wrap.

Abstract: 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. A device for producing and controlling an alternative current with a direct current source in at least one inductive load, in particular for driving a stepper motor, preferably in micro-steps. Such device includes a control loop circuit having an actuator for the control loop containing a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), which is for connecting the control boy to feedback elements. This provides for a flexible adjustment of the current producing and controlling device to the load to be operated, and to the function of the load, without changing the control loop circuit in which the CPLD is implemented. The actuator can be parameterized by use of a (universal) logic description by parameter constants.

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: Methods for development of an electrostatic image are disclosed that utilize developer compositions with hard magnetic carrier compositions which can provide improved development efficiencies and reduced amounts of image carrier pick-up. The methods utilize hard magnetic carrier particles that are modified to have specific levels of resistivity, such as, for example, of from about 1×105 ohm-cm to about 1×1010 ohm-cm, and a carrier charge-to-mass of greater than about 1.0 &mgr;C/g, which carriers can provide greater development speeds without unacceptable levels of image carrier pick-up. In embodiments, the hard magnetic materials are doped, i.e., bulk substituted, with multi-valent metals to adjust resistivity, while in other embodiments, the hard magnetic materials are coated with at least one multi-valent metal oxide.

Abstract: Correcting pixel inaccuracies in a writing device having a linear array elements wherein a mechanism to control temperature within a predetermined portion of the writing device is used to correct placement inaccuracies by first determining the inaccuracies with respect to a centering element reference point, and then adjusting the temperature within the predetermined portion of the writing device.