Abstract: Apparatus and method to detect and measure, in a non-image area on a toner-image-bearing member, a low coverage of toner particles relating to a background coverage of toner particles in an image frame, and in particular, to detect and measure by an optical detector a low toner coverage in excess of a threshold coverage or a pre-selected coverage and thereby produce a signal, e.g., a process control signal. Such a process control signal can be used to adjust the operating parameters of a process in a subsystem, such as a toning process or a photoexposure process. In preferred embodiments, synchronous detection is used to extract a signal having a magnitude proportional to the low toner coverage representative of the background coverage of toner particles.

Abstract: A printing system accurately prints proprietary marks and selected colors. A dictionary of recognizable patterns and defined colors corresponding to the proprietary marks and selected colors is linked to a user interface wherein a user may designate a location within a document and at least one of the proprietary marks with defined colors from an accessible menu. A processor associates the defined colors with the image at the specified location and generates a printer signal representative thereof. Alternatively, the processor includes a pattern recognizer for identifying recognizable patterns within a document. The patterns have a likeness to defined patterns within a pattern dictionary and can be converted to the defined patterns for display or imaging.

Abstract: Development systems and methods for developing using chemically prepared toners are disclosed. The present invention further discloses developers used in development systems. The use of chemically prepared toners with hard magnetic carrier particles with a non-magnetic, cylindrical shell for transporting developers provides excellent benefits with respect to image quality by reducing granularity and by providing a typically constant, stable developer life as shown by the consistent level of charge to mass over time during operation.

Abstract: A method for classifying pixels into one of a neutral category and a non-neutral category inputs a group of pixels within an image into a memory device. A color of each of the pixels is represented by a respective color identifier. An average color identifier is determined as a function of the color identifiers of the pixels in the group. One of the pixels within the group are classified into one of the neutral category and the non-neutral category as a function of the average color identifier.

Abstract: A method for classifying an image as one of color and neutral assigns respective values associated with a plurality of pixels in the image to a plurality of respective current pixels. Reduced image pixels are produced as a function of the current pixels. The image is classified as one of neutral and color as a function of the reduced image pixels.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to detect and measure, in a non-image area on a toner-image-bearing member, a low coverage of toner particles relating to a background coverage of toner particles in an image frame, and in particular, to detect and measure by an optical detector a low toner coverage in excess of a threshold coverage or a pre-selected coverage and thereby produce a signal, e.g., a process control signal. Such a process control signal can be used to adjust the operating parameters of a process in a subsystem, such as a toning process or a photoexposure process. In preferred embodiments, synchronous detection is used to extract a signal having a magnitude proportional to the low toner coverage representative of the background coverage of toner particles.

Abstract: Development systems and methods for developing using chemically prepared toners are disclosed. The present invention further discloses developers used in development systems. The use of chemically prepared toners with hard magnetic carrier particles with a non-magnetic, cylindrical shell for transporting developers provides excellent benefits with respect to image quality by reducing granularity and by providing a typically constant, stable developer life as shown by the consistent level of charge to mass over time during operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes apparatus for agitating toner contained by a relatively large toner container (e.g., 10-25 liters in volume). The apparatus includes a substantially vertically-oriented shaft supporting a blade that operates, as the blade rotates, to drive the contained toner mass upwardly, thereby aerating the mass and preventing compaction during toner dispensing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes apparatus for drawing ambient air in a vertical direction, preferably upwards, through a relatively large toner container. The air-flow is sufficient to fluidize the toner in the toner container and thereby prevent compaction. Such fluidization is optionally supplemented by the action of an auger or propeller mechanism mounted within the toner container. During rotation of the auger/propeller, the toner is lifted and thereby further prevents toner compaction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes apparatus for drawing ambient air in a vertical direction, preferably upwards, through a relatively large toner container (e.g., 10-225 liters in volume). The air-flow is sufficient to fluidize the toner in the container and thereby prevent compaction. Such fluidization is optionally supplemented by the action of an auger or propeller mechanism mounted within the container. During rotation of the auger/propeller, the toner is lifted and thereby further prevents toner compaction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes apparatus for agitating toner contained by a relatively large toner container (e.g., 10-25 liters in volume). Such apparatus includes a substantially vertically-oriented shaft supporting s blade member that operates, as the blade rotates, to drive the contained toner mass upwardly, thereby aerating the mass and preventing compaction during toner dispensing.

Abstract: A printing system accurately prints proprietary marks and selected colors. A dictionary of recognizable patterns and defined colors corresponding to the proprietary marks and selected colors is linked to a user interface wherein a user may designate a location within a document and at least one of the proprietary marks with defined colors from an accessible menu. A processor associates the defined colors with the image at the specified location and generates a printer signal representative thereof. Alternatively, the processor includes a pattern recognizer for identifying recognizable patterns within a document. The patterns have a likeness to defined patterns within a pattern dictionary and can be converted to the defined patterns for display or imaging.

Abstract: A method for classifying an image as one of color and neutral assigns respective values associated with a plurality of pixels in the image to a plurality of respective current pixels. Reduced image pixels are produced as a function of the current pixels. The image is classified as one of neutral and color as a function of the reduced image pixels.

Abstract: A cleaning system for increasing the packing density of a cleaner sump that uses magnetic toner, by filling unused sump space. The cleaning system uses a magnetic force to attract the magnetic waste toner to the sump area not filled by gravity assistance alone. The magnetic force is created by a magnet. The magnet can be either internal to the sump or external thereto.

Abstract: A non-contact optical sheet size and/or position detection system for detecting the position of at least one edge of an outside (top or bottom) document sheet stacked in a sheet stacking tray in which thin document sheets of different sizes and/or positions are stacked on top of one another; with an illumination source for illuminating the potential sheet edge areas at an angle generating detectable sheet edge shadows, and an optical detection system remotely detecting the edge shadow positions to provide sheet edge location information to a control system for the imaging or offsetting of the sheet. In a document feeder for sequentially feeding a top or bottom sheet to be imaged, the detection system may be responsive only to a moving sheet edge shadow to determine the size of the sheet being fed to be imaged relative to other sheets in the stack irrespective of intermixed different sizes of sheets in the stack. For a bottom feeder the detection may be through an elongate aperture in the tray.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating and recovering separately toner particles of one matchable characteristic different color toner contained in a mixture of a plurality of such different color toners. The apparatus and method include a holder for holding a quantity of the mixture of a plurality of such different color toners, and a selected particular type of carrier beads characteristically matching, and being more likely to charge, attract and triboelectrically bind with, toner particles of a matching color toner in the mixture of the different color toners than with toner particles of any other color toner therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying surface relief features of a substrate processed in a printing machine, and adjusting the machine parameters as a function thereof, before the substrate is processed through the machine. The apparatus includes a light source positioned adjacent to the substrate surface. A light sensing device, in a light receiving relationship with the substrate surface, detects light reflected from the substrate surface. A signal is generated indicative of sensed light intensity with a first magnitude range indicating ridges and a second magnitude range indicating depressions. Control circuitry, electrically connected to the light sensing device, receives the signals of ridges and depressions, and discriminates between them to generate a set of signals indicating surface relief features of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the transverse registration of an image area to be exposed on a longitudinally moving belt by providing belt edge profile data, detecting a lateral position of the belt during movement of the belt by measuring the lateral position of the belt edge, and adjusting the transverse location of the image on the belt to compensate for a difference between the detected lateral belt edge position and the belt edge profile data. In addition, a method and apparatus is provided for controlling the lateral position of a longitudinally moving endless belt by generating a steering command signal by calculating a difference between the detected first lateral position of the belt edge and the belt edge profile data corresponding to the first longitudinal position, and adjusting the lateral position of the belt by steering the belt in response to the steering command.

Abstract: A cleaning system for increasing the packing density of a cleaner sump that uses magnetic toner, by filling unused sump space. The cleaning system uses a magnetic force to attract the magnetic waste toner to the sump area not filled by gravity assistance alone. The magnetic force is created by a magnet. The magnet can be either internal to the sump or external thereto.

Abstract: To remove ferromagnetic carrier beads from the surface of a photoreceptor leaving a development station in an electrophotographic machine, the carrier beads are magnetically attracted to the surfaced of an elongated, rotating cylinder. The cylinder surface is provided with a raised spiral thread to create a material conveying auger operating to axially convey the attracted beads to a cylinder end portion beyond a side edge of the photoreceptor, where the carrier beads fall into a sump.