Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for alignment of sheet material (1) which is conveyed in one conveyor plane (9). The sheet material is conveyed on bodies (35) of revolution and aligned by means of triggerable alignment elements (25) in the conveyor direction (22) and perpendicular to the conveyor direction (22). The alignment elements (25) are assigned to an alignment unit (8). The alignment motion necessary for alignment of the sheet material in the conveyor direction (2) and perpendicular thereto takes placed by separate alignment elements (25) which can be triggered independently of one another during conveyance of the sheet material (1) with the process speed.

Abstract: A pressure member for use in fixing toner to a 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—, wherein 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: A digital image recording device (1), especially an electrographic or electrophotographic printing or copying machine, and a process for controlling the gloss of a toner image which has been transferred to an image carrier substrate (9) and fixed are proposed. In the process, after the toner image has been fixed on the image carrier substrate (9) by heating, as much heat is supplied to the toner image at least once again that the toner image on its surface or in the area near its surface is melted either completely or at least in areas, the degree and/or the duration of melting being set depending on the desired gloss of the toner image.

Abstract: Disclosed are fuser members, apparatus and methods which employ compositions that can be varied to provide a fused toner image with a selected gloss level. In embodiments, the apparatus and methods employ a fusing member having an outer contact surface thereon which contacts a previously fused toner image under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. The contact surface has a Gardner G60 gloss of up to about 35 and is comprised of a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer co-cured with a fluorinated resin, such as polyfluoroethylenepropylene (FEP).

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus including a fuser member and a pressure member, a release oil oiler system for the fuser assembly, and a cleaner for cleaning the pressure member. The pressure member cleaner has a cleaning member including a fabric material. A drive mechanism is associated with the cleaning member for moving the cleaning member relative to the pressure member such that the cleaning member is located in operative association with the pressure member, or the cleaning member is located in spaced relation remote from the pressure member. A logic and control unit selectively activates the drive mechanism to move the cleaning member to the operative association location or the remote location.

Abstract: A device for adjusting a frame of a printing press carrying a conveyor belt relevant to printing modules in the three-dimensional axial directions. At least a First guide is provided on the frame for guiding a plate arranged on the frame in a horizontal direction x lengthwise to the frame by a first guiding component for adjusting the frame in the appropriate direction. Second guides are provided in a vertical direction y to the frame, on which two movable guiding components are positioned, and between the two guiding components, a third guiding component is arranged, which can be moved to the third guides on the second guiding components in the direction z transverse to a substantially horizontal plane of the frame.

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 process for reducing image defects in an electrostatographic image resulting from particulate contamination. A primary imaging member, including a photoconductive element and an outermost layer of silicon carbide, is uniformly charged in an electrostatographic imaging apparatus subject to particulate contamination. The electrostatographic imaging apparatus includes a charging station, an exposing station, at least one developing station, and a transfer station comprising an electrically biased roller transfer assembly. The primary imaging member is exposed imagewise at the exposing station to form a latent image on the imaging member, which is thereafter developed with toner at the developing station to form a developed image on the imaging member.

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.

Abstract: A printing machine having at least one printing unit whose image cylinder is driven by friction by an element to which the image is transferred. The influence of a change in the application of print is kept as small as possible, by the width of image cylinder and element being at least so much wider than the maximum width of the image to be transferred that the rotational speed of the image cylinder remains essentially constant in the event of a change in the image.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for EMI shielding that is economical and adaptable on high voltage interconnection cables in corona charging systems. The shield can be implemented without loss of efficiency in the transmission of low-level currents from the power source to the charging device.

Abstract: A printing unit (1) for a printing machine, having an image cylinder (2), an image generating device (3) for setting an image on the peripheral surface (4) of the image cylinder (2), and an image transfer cylinder (5) which transfers the image from the image cylinder (2) to a printing substrate (6), the image transfer cylinder (5) having a resilient cover (7) which exhibits a deformation (10, 10′) in the force transmission areas (8, 9), and a transport belt (11) that carries the printing substrates (6) and is supported by a back-pressure cylinder (12) driving the image transfer cylinder (5) and the latter driving the image cylinder (2), by friction. The printing unit has a continuous image cylinder speed (v(ü)).

Abstract: A gripping arrangement for a stacker device or delivery tray of a printing press. At least one upper gripper arm and at least one lower gripper arm are provided, which have a first opened position and a second closed position. Sheets are located between the upper and lower gripper arms in the closed position. A first guiding device guides the gripping arrangement substantially in the vertical direction, and a second guiding device guides the gripping arrangement substantially in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for organizing a Variable Data Print job containing a plurality of documents that are to be printed. Each of said plurality of documents being defined by a plurality of variants that include elements related to content, layout and product intent, herein at least a portion of the plurality of documents each contain a Field of Data having information specific to that document; selecting at least one parameter from the Field of Data and creating a plurality of groups in accordance with the parameter, and arranging the groups for printing in accordance to the parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating templates used in Variable Data Printing by analyzing a variable printing job file for production related parameters to create groups of families and associating each of the families with a set of Manufacturing Capabilities for the printing device intended to render the variable printing job to create a set of templates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a Variable Data Print job for printing, having a plurality of documents that are to be printed wherein, each of the documents are defined by variant elements related to content, layout and product intent. Groups are created and defined by a commonality of variants within the document relating to layout and product intent. At least one parameter that relates to the variants is used as a selection criteria to form a plurality of sub-groups. The sub-groups are then arranged for printing according to the form of selection criteria.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining and preparing a plurality of production ready variable data print jobs from variable data print data which defines the layout and product intent data for a plurality of Instance Documents. Each of the Instance Documents contains a plurality of page definitions. Each production ready print job is determined based on a set of common characteristics that allow for a particular workflow configuration to efficiently produce it.

Abstract: A device (I) for separating an uppermost sheet (S1) from a supply stack (S), for the purpose of grasping the separated uppermost sheet and feeding it, wherein air blowers (3.1) for spreading apart several sheets of an upper sheet stack area (SR) and air blowers (3.2) for separating the uppermost sheet (S1) and holding back an adhering sheet (S2), are located downstream in front of the supply stack and transverse to a sheet transport path (42), and wherein air jets with different pressures, directions, and diameters may be generated by the air blowers (3.1; 3.2) supplied from an air pressure source (6) with at least one air nozzle (31) located in the area of a center line (Y, Z) of the stack (2) and the transport path (42) and with several air nozzles (32) located on both sides of the center line.

Abstract: There is provided a carrier, for an electrcostatographic developer, comprising particles of a hard magnetic ferrite material as the core, the core having a coating of a polymer resin, said resin in turn having a coating of an organic conductive material. The organic conductive material can be a charge control agent and can be present in very small amounts. The developer compositions have no need for preconditioning since they have stable charging characteristics. Further, they exhibit low levels of “dusting”.