Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling image defects associated with overdrive or underdrive, and variations thereof, in an electrostatographic machine. A speed modifying force is transmitted to a conformable member that deforms in a nip, thereby inducing strains in the surface of the member at the nip which cancel or controllably reduce the strains caused by engagement in the nip. The speed modifying force may be an externally applied drag force or torque, and may be applied using an open loop or a feedback system including an electromagnetic brake, a motor, etc. The speed modifying force may be applied to a conformable member forming the nip through a redundant linkage of the system that employs gears or other suitable mechanisms.

Abstract: Controlling image defects related to transfer or fusing of toner images in an electrostatographic machine, wherein engagement between an operational surface of a toner image bearing member or fusing member and an operational surface of another member forming a nip is adjusted using an engagement adjustment device in order to reduce or eliminate image defects relating to an overdrive or underdrive associated with the nip. The engagement adjustment device provides a preselected amount of overdrive or underdrive between a toner image bearing member or fusing member and a receiver member, which preselected amount includes zero.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer roller that functions as an image receiving member within a reproduction apparatus having a rigid cylindrical core member and at least one layer of an elastically deformable structure surrounding the core member, the elastically deformable structure preferably has an effective Poisson's ratio in the range of 0.2 to 0.4.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling image defects associated with overdrive or underdrive and variations thereof in an electrostatographic machine, the defects related to transfer and fusing of toner images. A speed modifying fore is transmitted to a conformable member that deforms in a nip, thereby inducing strains in the surface of the member at the nip which cancel or controllably reduce the strains caused by engagement in the nip. The speed modifying fore may be an externally applied drag force, such as for example a friction force, and may be applied using an open loop or a feedback system including an electromagnetic brake, a motor, etc. Alternatively, the speed modifying force may be produced by a controllable torque applied for example by a torque generator to an axle of a roller included in a frictionally driven system of rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling image defects related to transfer of toner images in an electrostatographic machine. An engagement between an operational surface of a toner image bearing member and an operational surface of another member forming a transfer nip is adjusted using an engagement adjustment device in order to reduce or eliminate image defects relating to an overdrive or underdrive associated with the nip. A transfer nip for transferring a toner image may include two rollers supported by parallel shafts coaxial with each roller, the shafts separated by a controllable distance of separation and the engagement in the nip being controllably adjustable by an engagement adjustment device to increase or decrease the distance of separation.

Abstract: A small particle toner image is formed on a primary image member (21), such as a photoconductor; electrostatically transferred to an intermediate transfer member (42); and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate transfer member (42) includes a substrate, a compliant blanket (19), and a thin, hard overcoat (80) sectioned into small, discreet segments (81).

Abstract: A small particle toner image is formed on a primary image member (11), such as a photoconductor; electrostatically transferred to an intermediate transfer member (22); and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate transfer member includes a base of a relatively compliant material having an embedded coating of beads with a volume weighted average diameter of less than about 3 microns, and preferably between 0.5 and 1.0 micron. These beads cover at least 40% of the intermediate image member.