Abstract: A marking engine includes a plurality of components which each perform a portion of a marking operation. A processing component receives information on a replacement module, such as a toner cartridge selected from a set of different toner carridges, which is to be incorporated into the marking engine. The processing component determines, for one or more of the components of the marking engine, appropriate adjustments for rendering the marking engine compatible with the replacement module, based on the received information.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking engines in series which each include an image applying component for applying an image to print media and a fixing device for at least partially fixing the applied image. One or both marking engines are operable in first and second modes of operation. In the first mode, the fixing device at least partially fixes the image applied by the respective image applying component. In the second mode, the fixing device is used to further fix an image on the print media which has been applied by the image applying component of the other marking engine without an intermediate application of an image to the print media by the second image applying component. A processing component controls the marking engine to operate in a selected one of the first and second modes of operation.

Abstract: Xerographic photoreceptor life is improved while maintaining output print quality by adjusting the AC charging actuator of a xerographic machine to a point at which photoconductor life is optimized while maintaining output print quality. Where the actuator is voltage, the actuator is set a predetermined amount above the knee voltage of the photoreceptor surface potential versus peak-to-peak voltage curve, which is determined during operation of the machine. Instead of determining the knee voltage, calibration sheets can be generated for various values of the actuator, the best sheet with the least possible actuator value is selected, and the AC charging actuator is set to the value corresponding to the best sheet. The sheets can be evaluated by a user, or an optical array sensor can be used to scan the sheets so that the controller can compare the sheets to stored criteria to automatically select the best sheet and set the actuator.

Abstract: The disclosure proposes the automatic use of the job or image content information of a print job. This information is used to automatically adjust the general printing procedure for a print engine. The job's image content information is analyzed in the context of the constraints of the print engine to determine an improved printing procedure, which may include cycle-up operation, process control cycles, or maintenance cycles for that particular print job.

Abstract: A system that determines an amount of toner mass present on a toner application surface, and comprises a specular reflection sensor, a diffuse reflection sensor, an output combination module, and a mass determination module. The specular reflection sensor receives electromagnetic radiation that has been specularly reflected by the toner application surface, and generates a specular reflection output representative of the received electromagnetic radiation. The diffuse reflection sensor receives electromagnetic radiation that has been diffusely reflected by the toner application surface, and generates a diffuse reflection output representative of the received electromagnetic radiation. The output combination module creates a combined output by combining the specular reflection output and the diffuse reflection output with the purpose of reducing a noise source common to both specular and diffuse outputs to improve the signal to noise ratio.