Abstract: A cleaning brush and method for removing a coating solution from the inner end of a flexible, tubular substrate to be fitted over a mandrel or drum. After a tubular substrate is dipped endwise in a coating solution, some solution coats the inner face of the substrate at one end. By using moderate deformation of the substrate, changes to the profile of the cleaning brush, or both, the cleaning brush is fitted inside the end of the tubular substrate without damaging the substrate. The cleaning brush engages and cleans the substrate's inner surface. The substrate is then free from any coating so as to readily fit on the mandrel or drum.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of making an ink-jet-ink-derived material image on a receiver. An ink jet device is used to form a colloidal ink image on a member. The ink for use in the ink jet device includes an aqueous-based colloidal dispersion of particles and a nonaqueous colloidal dispersion of particles. The ink for use in the ink jet device includes an aqueous-based colloidal dispersion of particles, a nonaqueous colloidal dispersion of particles. The particles of the colloidal ink image are caused to become concentrated adjacent an operational surface of the member. Excess liquid is removed from the particles so as to form an ink-jet-ink-derived material image. The ink-jet-ink-derived image is then transferred from the operational surface of the intermediate member to another member, which another member may be a receiver member, a drum or a web.

Abstract: An improved donor member for applying a toner release agent to a toned receiver comprises a support an intermediate layer disposed on the support, and an outermost layer formed from a cured composition comprising a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent, a particulate filler containing zinc oxide, and a curable aminosiloxane, wherein the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer has subunits of: —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3)y—, and —(CF2CF2)z—, and x is from 1 to 40 or 60 to 80 mole percent, y is from 10 to 90 mole percent, z is from 10 to 90 mole percent, and x+y+z equals 100 mole percent.

Abstract: Determining and correcting registration errors, which are caused by the rotational speed of a print cylinder changing because of a sheet passing between the print cylinder and a sheet transport conveyor belt. At least one first registration mark is applied onto the conveyor belt prior to a sheet being transported thereby, and at least one second registration mark is applied onto the conveyor belt after the transported sheet. By the detection of the first registration mark and the second registration mark, a calculation of a timing number between the detection of the first registration mark and the second registration mark can be made. The calculated timing number is compared to a target value to determine any error due to change in angular velocity of the print cylinder due to engagement with the sheet.

Abstract: A cleaner for removing contaminates. Sensors detect a position of the cleaner with respect to a substrate, a proper rotation of components within the cleaner, and a proper electrical bias of the components. The components include a fiber brush, a detoning roller, and an auger.

Abstract: A Finish Verification system used within a Variable Data Printing system that enables all of the sheets of a PPML/VDX job to be reliably tracked throughout the printing system such that any documents that are not properly finished are automatically detected and setup for re-print. A unique bar code on each sheet of a PPML/VDX job is read by a finishing device and compared to a Finish Verification File to verify that all of the required pages comprise each finished booklet. If any error prevents manufacturing any finished documents, a pre-press software application receives this information via an updated Finish Verification File and produces a new PPML/VDX job consisting of just the instance documents that need to be re-printed.

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: Operator Replaceable Component (ORC) devices are employed; that enable an operator that is not a skilled field engineer or service technician, to perform maintenance on a digital printer, resulting in significantly higher uptime for the press. The ORC devices have an expected life span and the system can track the remaining life for each of the ORC devices and prompts the operator when they should be replaced. Preferably, the recent use of the digital printer is compared against the remaining life of the ORC device with the shortest remaining life. The recent use of the digital printer is used to decrement the remaining life of the ORC devices until an ORC device needs replacement. The operator is then notified of the need to replace the ORC device that has expired.

Abstract: A particulate toner composition comprises a dry blend of a low viscosity polymeric particulate toner component having a first selected melt viscosity and a first selected melt elasticity, and a high viscosity polymeric particulate toner component having a second selected melt viscosity and a second selected melt elasticity. The first and second melt viscosities and first and second melt elasticities are each selected so as to produce a lower variation in measured G60 gloss values as a function of fusing temperature for fused images formed from the dry blend toner composition than the corresponding variation in measured G60 gloss values for fused images formed from the low viscosity polymeric toner component of the composition.

Abstract: A charging device assembly used within a reprographic machine having a hollow shell containing the charging device, an attachment mechanism that fastens the charging device 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 that is coupled to the charging device. The shell can be conductive or insulative and is formed with features that facilitate easy mounting and removing of the charging device assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery table (1) for flat material (2), in particular sheet paper, with a safeguard so that the material (2) does not slide on the delivery table (1). Exact and stable positioning of the flat material (2) is achieved in that the safeguard to prevent sliding of the flat material (2) is constructed as a surface (5) disposed in the back area (4) of the delivery table (1), exhibiting high friction vis-à-vis the flat material (2).

Abstract: A fuser member comprising a support and a layer overlying the support, the layer including a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent having a bisphenol residue, a particulate filler containing zinc oxide, an aminosiloxane, the cured fluorocarbon thermoplastics random copolymer having subunits of: —(CH2CF2)x—, —(CF2CF(CF3)y—, and —(CF2CF2)z—, wherein: x is from 1 to 40 or 60 to 80 mole percent, z is greater than 40 to no more than 89 mole percent, and y is such that x+y+z equals 100 mole percent.

Abstract: A process for heating at least one second material layer (2), especially a toner layer which has been transferred to an image receiver substrate. Energy delivery from electromagnetic and/or acoustic waves (5) is incident from a first material layer (1) at an angle of incidence (&agr;) relative to the normal (7) of the second material layer (2). The angle of incidence (&agr;) is chosen such that the energy delivery which causes at least the heating of the second material layer (2) takes place at least predominantly via the quantum tunnel effect.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for a reproduction apparatus. The fuser assembly includes a fuser roller and a pressure roller associated therewith in nip relation. At least on of the rollers have a profiled core and a base cushion applied to the profiled core to provide for uniform drive speed through the nip across the roller.

Abstract: A conductive fur brush cleaning assembly for an image processing apparatus. The cleaning 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 detoning zone. The sealing devices prevent airborne marking particles from traveling from the detoning zone into the scavenging zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transmission of multiple control characters of the same type to a receiver to improve the retention of transmitter to receiver synchronization in a noisy environment having receiver code that is less complex and does not require an increase in the bandwidth of the system since the control codes are already utilized to initiate other functions. Detection of any of the control characters of the same type by the receiver allows the receiver to maintain proper synchronization. The receiver will detect these control signals and anticipate the occurrence of an event within a predetermined time period.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a publication including plural service publication units typically used by a service technician to service a complex product. The units are browser enabled HTML files and include special links to at least one of the other publications units. The links are file names determined within a predetermined naming convention. The publication units are produced with a groupware product and a script for the groupware product along with a process for converting the links. The links, prior to conversion, have the form {{code,link,description}} where “code” corresponds to a publication file name without a file type extension, “link” indicates what should appear in the HTML text and “description” describes the contents of the file for the author. The HTML service publication unit files are stored on a service technician's portable computer and accessible at the site of the product.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods to adjust gloss of a fused toner image, and in particular to reduce differential gloss within the fused toner image so as to provide prints which more closely resemble lithographic prints in image quality. In embodiments, the apparatus and methods employ a finishing member having an outer contact surface thereon which contacts a previously fused toner image under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. The contact surface is comprised of a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer co-cured with a fluorinated resin, such as polyfluoroethylenepropylene (FEP). In embodiments, the contact surface comprises a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer co-cured with a fluorinated resin including 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, and x +y+z equals 100 mole percent.

Abstract: A process or device for fusing toner on a carrier or a printing material, particularly a sheet-type printing material, preferably for a digital printer, wherein the printing material with the toner is irradiated with microwaves from at least one microwave conductor, which is heated to melt the toner and a toner is used which shows a sharp drop of the elastic modulus G′ from its hard state to its liquid state when heated. The ratio of the value of the elastic modulus G′ of the toner is 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 is <10−5.

Abstract: A method and conveying device for mounting and removing a conveyor belt or web, particularly for a printing press. A shell-shaped sub-carrier is attached to each front side of a frame of a printing press, and the conveyor belt or web is mounted or removed from this frame via the sub-carriers. The invention makes it possible for a single operator of a machine to simply and quickly change the conveyor belt or web.