Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for merging page elements according to a layout signal into one page for reproduction on a reproduction device. The page elements are segmented into smaller area tiles before storage stored into memory. Data from the page elements includes metadata describing the position into the memory of the sub-elements of the page element. Due to the used format for the page elements, data needed during merging can be retrieved, decompressed an processed quickly so merging can be done in real time during printing. The format used for the area tiles enables easy and fast execution of various image operations such as mirroring, rotation, etc . . . Complexity data can be incorporated into the page element data, giving information about the amount of processing required to execute the merging.

Abstract: A toner composition is provided wherein by adding aliphatic lower molecular weight compounds which are partly or completely compatible with the binder resin(s), the melt viscosity of the toner composition can be lowered while the glass transition temperature (Tg) is more or less constant. Inclusion of these adding aliphatic lower molecular weight compounds, having a number average molecular weight, as measured by GPC in toluene, of from 500 to 3,000, results in toner compositions with a better adhesion and gloss and still an acceptable level of FOT and hot-offset. Also provide is a method for fixing toner images on a substrate.

Abstract: A method for coating carrier particles wherein the carrier particles are stirred mechanically and wherein the volume of the coating solution is in the same order of magnitude as the volume of the carrier particles to be coated.

Abstract: A fusing member comprising a support, and on the support, an outermost layer containing a silicone elastomer, having at most 5% by weight of filler particles, the elastomer layer containing polyorganosiloxane having a swelling factor, SF, equal to or higher than 3 and a thickness between 5 and 500 &mgr;m, both limits included and a second layer with an impurity absorbing material, closer to the support and immediately in contact with the outermost layer, the second layer being at least 40 &mgr;m thick. Preferably the second layer has a silicone containing elastomer and contains at least 5% by weight of metal oxide particles having a specific surface of ≧30 m2.

Abstract: Dry toner particles with a resinous matrix containing a mixture of a polymer (LPC) with low softening point and tg&dgr;>3, modified by a modifier (D) selected from the group consisting of long chain aliphatic compounds with a reactive end group and having between 20 and 250 carbon atoms and a polysiloxane, said modifier and said polymer being present in a molar ratio LPC/D between 0.8 and 1.25 and a non-linear polymer with a softening point TsB such that 110° C.≦TsB≦135° C. The toner particles further contain a wax chosen from waxes having a melting point near to the softening point of the branched polymer B.

Abstract: A method for printing an image on a substrate by image-wise depositing, toner particles on the substrate, is disclosed, comprising: image-wise depositing dry toner particles on the substrate forming a first band-like portion of the image, conditioning the first band-like portion while keeping the substrate at a temperature equal to or lower than 100° C. and further image-wise depositing toner particles on the substrate so as to form at least one other band-like portion of such image, the at least one other band-like portion of the image being adjacent to the first band-like portion. Preferably the method is used for printing substrates with an area equal to or larger than 0.25 m2.

Abstract: The printer has at least two printing stations which cause images to be printed on a substrate. The printer is capable of registration adjustment. First and second patterns of spaced registration marks are printed onto the substrate by operation of the printing stations. The second pattern partially overlaps the first pattern to form a composite pattern of registration marks. The composite pattern is illuminated and the reflectivity thereof is examined at wavelengths complementary to the colors of the first and second patterns to obtain a reflectivity signature for the composite pattern. The reflectivity signature of the composite pattern (120) is compared with a predetermined signature to determine an adjustment factor for the printer.

Abstract: The invention is an electrostatographic printer and a method of printing with such a printer. The printer includes a transfer member that is driven along a continuous path, and a toner image depositor that deposits a toner image in powder form on the transfer member. A substrate is fed into contact with the transfer member, and the toner image on the transfer member is heated in advance of the transfer; the transfer member is cooled following the image transfer to a temperature below the glass transition temperature T.sub.g of the toner; then further toner images may be deposited on the transfer member. A controlling pressure roller is positioned in opposition to the transfer member to form a transfer nip, through which the substrate passes, the substrate wrapping partially around the pressure roller both in advance of and following the transfer nip.

Abstract: A single-pass, multi-color electrostatographic duplex printer has a transfer member which is driven along a continuous path. Toner images of different colors are simultaneously electrostatically deposited in powder form in register with each other on the transfer member to form a multiple toner image. The substrate is fed into contact with the transfer member for transfer of the multiple toner image to at least one face of the substrate. The printer includes a heater for heating the multiple toner image on the transfer member in advance of the transfer of the image to the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate carrying an unfixed toner image is fed through a contact zone which extends continuously from an entrance to an exit (18; 78). The zone is defined by an endless surface such as a first belt and a reaction surface such as a second belt in face-to-face pressure contact therewith. The first belt adjacent the entrance is heated to a temperature sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the toner to less than 50 Pa s. The first belt is forcibly cooled intermediate the entrance and the exit to a temperature below the glass transition point T.sub.g of the toner. Thereby un-fixed toner images can be fixed to the substrate and provided with a desirable level of gloss in one single device, while widening the range of operating conditions without risk of offset occurring.

Abstract: The printer comprises:a digital printing station (12);a support (20) for a roll (22) of the substrate web (24) carrying a plurality of synchronisation marks;means (28) for continuously feeding the substrate web (24) from the roll (22) past the printing station (12);a sensing device (32) positioned upstream of the printing station (12) for sensing the synchronisation marks on the web (24); andcontrol means (38) for initiating a printing sequence at the printing station (12) in response to the sensing of each of the synchronisation marks (26, 34, 36). Thereby a plurality of images are printed on the web (24), each at a predetermined location in the transport direction relative to an associated one of the synchronisation marks (26, 34, 36).

Abstract: A single pass, multi-color electrostatographic printer includes a transfer member which is driven along a continuous path. Several toner images of different colors are electrostatically deposited in powder form in registration with each other on the transfer member to form a multiple toner image thereon. A substrate is fed into contact with the transfer member. The multiple toner image is thereby transferred to at least one face of the substrate. The printer includes heaters for heating the multiple toner image on the transfer member in advance of the transfer of the image to the substrate and cooling devices for cooling the transfer member following the transfer of the multiple toner image therefrom to the substrate to a temperature below the glass transition temperature T.sub.g of the toner, prior to the deposition of further toner images on the transfer member.

Abstract: An electrostatographic single-pass multiple station multi-colour printer for forming an image onto a web. The printer has a plurality of toner image-printing electrostatographic stations. Each station has a drum onto the surface of which a toner image can be formed. An exposure station forms an electrostatic toner image line-wise on each drum surface. A corona device transfers the toner image onto the web, which is conveyed in succession past the stations in synchronism with the rotation of the drum surface. A register control device is provided for controlling the operation of each of the stations in timed relationship thereby to obtain correct registering of the distinct toner images on the web. The register control device includes an encoder driven by the displacement of the web to produce pulses indicative of web displacement, and delay system arranged to initiate the operation of subsequent stations after a predetermined web displacement, as measured by the encoder, has occurred.

Abstract: A single-pass, multi-color electrostatographic printer has a transfer member which is driven along a continuous path. Toner images of different colors are simultaneously electrostatically deposited in powder form in register with each other on the transfer member to form a multiple toner image. The substrate is fed into contact with the transfer member for transfer of the multiple toner image to at least one face of the substrate. The printer includes a heater for the multiple toner image on the transfer member in advance of the transfer of the image to the substrate, and cooling capability for the transfer member following the transfer of the multiple toner image to the substrate, to a temperature below the glass transition temperature T.sub.g of the toner, prior to deposition of further toner images on the transfer member.

Abstract: An electrostatographic printer is provided in which a web of receiving material (12) is fed along a web path, at least one toner image is formed on at least a first face of the receiving material (12) as it is fed along the web path and the toner image is fixed onto the receiving material (12). A finishing element (66, 67) positioned downstream of the fixing station (16) contacts the first face of the receiving material (12) while the finishing element is at a temperature above the glass transition temperature T.sub.g of the toner to modify the finish of the toner image.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a plurality of recording heads connected in series in a closed cooling circuit. Each of the recording heads includes a linear array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on a common thermally conductive LED carrier bar. The carrier bar carries a series of modules, each module containing N LEDs with their associated drivers. The carrier bar is provided with a U-shaped duct inside a thermally conductive body which is in thermally conductive contact with the carrier bar. The duct extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and has a cooling fluid such as water flowing therethrough.

Abstract: The generation of personalised documents, or documents including variable data, may require one or more varying overlay images to be printed on top of a background image. In order to avoid the generation of the background image for each document separately, a method is provided to store the background image permanently and to merge it with the overlay images just before printing. A transparency notion may be introduced to avoid masking of the background image by horizontally oriented rectangular overlays. The overlay image and the background image may be generated by a process of multilevel halftoning, suitable for printing by an electrophotographic printing device, using colored toner.

Abstract: A method of forming a drum assembly for use as a rotatable endless surface onto which a toner image is formed. The drum assembly has a hollow drum with an opening at each end and a surface onto which the image is formed. A support flange, having an aperture in the center thereof, is cooled before being inserted into each end opening. The drum assembly also includes a shaft having a collar fixed in the vicinity of each end. After the shaft is positioned inside the drum, the collars are positioned to coincide with the flange apertures. Screws secure each collar to its respective flange. The screws can be adjusted to reduce the eccentricity of the drum.

Abstract: A non-impact printer is described for forming an image on a medium. The printer having:a linear array of recording sources for forming a multi-gradation latent image on a receptor surface, the linear array comprising a plurality of sub-sets of recording sources;an element for developing the latent image into a visual image;an element for transferring said visual image onto the medium;an element for generating and storing first correction factors derived from measurements of the non-uniformity of average energy output of each of the sub-sets of recording sources;first correction element for applying, for each sub-set of recording sources, the first correction factors;an element for generating and storing second correction factors derived from measurements of the non-uniformity of each individual one of the recording sources; andsecond correction element for applying said second correction factors after applying the first correction factors.

Abstract: A developing unit including a housing having an opening defining a developing zone, an applicator for applying particulate developer through the opening towards an electrostatographic image to be developed, and a paddle wheel for agitating developer within the housing, for scooping up developer from within the housing and projecting scooped-up developer towards the applicator. A hopper, located outside the width of the development zone supplies toner to the housing, and a primary spiral screw conveys developer from the hopper across the width of the development zone in one direction, while a secondary spiral screw receives developer from the primary spiral screw and conveys developer across the width of the development zone in an opposite direction. A passageway outside the width of the development zone enables the return of developer from the secondary spiral screw to the primary spiral screw.