Abstract: An arrangement for moving a developer material along the developer axis where a bulk of the developer material is stored in a reservoir located on one side of the developer. The developer consists of the reservoir and a housing having a cavity extending along the developer axis. Several angled ribs are formed inside the cavity. A magnetically transparent sleeve resides inside the cavity and is rotated about the axis. Finally a magnetic element placed inside the sleeve magnetically attracts the developer material toward the sleeve such that the rotation of the sleeve induces the rotation in the developer material. As the developer material comes into contact with the angled ribs, the rotation of the developer material is translated into a lateral motion along the axis by the angled ribs.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator apparatus which transfers a magnetic force produced by a solenoid to a movable arm. The arm is movable between an engaged position spaced away from the solenoid and a solenoid position abutting the solenoid. The arm has a bore formed therein opposite the solenoid. A magnetic member is slidingly received in the bore. The magnetic member is spaced away from the solenoid a distance less than the arm when the arm is in the engaged position and abuts the solenoid when the arm is in the solenoid position. A head is connected to the magnetic member on the side of the arm opposite the solenoid to prevent the magnetic member from passing through the bore. The head transfers the force applied to the magnetic member to the arm when the solenoid is energized. The arm and the magnetic member move in unison until the magnetic member abuts the solenoid at which point the arm moves relative to the magnetic member until the arm reaches the solenoid position.

Abstract: Image development and transfer apparatus for use in electrophotographic color printers and including a photoconductor, such as either a photoconductive drum or belt, which is spaced from sources of liquid color toners. An intermediate transport film is driven around a section of the photoconductor surface and between this surface and the sources of liquid color toners. Thus, the latent image developed on the surface of the photoconductor is transferred from the surface of the photoconductor to the outer surface of the intermediate transport film where the composite color image is developed. Then, this composite color image is transferred directly onto a print receiving media. Consequently, the photoconductor is not exposed to heat or carrier fluids during the image transfer and development process. This novel feature not only improves overall print quality on the printed media, but additionally extends the useful lifetime of the photoconductor.

Abstract: A system is described for providing positional information regarding a media sheet in an image forming apparatus. The system includes a laser for providing a beam of collimated light and a mechanism for moving a media sheet along an imprinting path. Beam sensors are placed in the imprinting path, and positioned so as to be partially shaded by a media sheet when it is moved along the imprinting path. A scanning system moves the light beam across the media sheet and past its edges to cause the beam to fall on the beam sensors, when the media sheet is partially shadowing the beam sensors. A processor is responsive to outputs from the beam sensors to determine positional information regarding the media sheet. Positional information is derived by determining the time during which the scanned beam is incident on a sensor.

Abstract: A combination fusing and media direction control method and apparatus wherein a fuser roller is positioned adjacent to a pair of idler pressure rollers located at predetermined locations adjacent to the surface of the motor driven fuser roller which is operative to receive printed media from a photo-conductive drum within a printer housing. The printed media enters a location between the surface of the fuser roller and one of the idler pressure rollers where it then traverses an approximately 90.degree. contoured path around approximately one-quarter (1/4) of the surface area of the fuser roller where it then exits the fuser roller at the intersection of the fuser roller and the second idler pressure roller. From this point, the direction of media travel is maintained substantially in a horizontal direction until the time the media comes to rest in an output paper collection tray of the printer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser printer (100) which employs existing mechanical and electrical components by using a method which trades print resolution for paper speed. By changing various combinations of the laser spot size, paper motion speed, V.sub.p, video data rate, f.sub.d, and scanner speed, .omega..sub.s, printer resolutions between 75 DPI and 900 DPI are simultaneously possible in both the horizontal and the vertical directions using existing engines such as the Canon LBRLX laser engine with only slight modifications.

Abstract: A color printer and method of operation wherein a plurality of color toners located within a fixed position carousel are transferred to the surface of a photoconductive drum. The media on which a printed image is to be formed is mounted on a stationary platform beneath the photoconductive drum, and the printed media is driven linearly back and forth on the fixed position platform during the formation of each of the cyan, yellow, magenta, and black color planes on the media. Then the media containing thee composite cyan, yellow, magenta, and black color image is passed through a pair of fuser rollers wherein the composite color image is fused into the media before the media is passed to an output media collection bin. During the above operation, the media supporting platform moves vertically in and out of contact with the photoconductive drum, allowing a pair of grit wheels to linearly move the paper within the printer housing and along the surfaces of contoured paper guides at each end of the platform.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the alignment and registration of color images such as those of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black (C, Y, M, K) which are successively printed on a photoconductive drum and then transferred from the drum to paper during electrophotographic color printing. Each scccessive color image printed on paper is fused therein, and then vertical, horizontal and angular error signals are generated after each fusion. These error signals represent the difference between an original image reference position and the image position after each color image fusion into the paper. These error signals are then processed in a closed loop feedback control system in such a manner as to control the position and scan rate of a laser beam being projected onto the photoconductive drum to thereby cause the next-printed color image to be aligned with the previously printed color image.