Abstract: A wide latitude printing system is provided for printing on a wide variety of different types, sizes, formats and weights of media substrates.

Abstract: A system and method of estimating the thickness of the individual sheets in a stack of sheets in a print media sheet input stacking tray before printing with an electronic sensing system for electronically detecting individual sheet edges in the stack thereof and a movement system providing a known traversal distance of the sheet edge sensing system relative to one side of the stack to produce multiple signals corresponding to multiple detected individual sheet edges, and dividing that multiplicity of signals into the known traversal movement to estimate the thickness of the individual print media sheets in the stack and provide a corresponding electrical output can be used for automatic control of sheet feeder, printer or finisher functions. A relatively simple contacting or non-contacting sensor may be used.

Abstract: An electrographic printing machine including: a first photoconductive member; an imaging device for recording a first latent image on the first photoconductive member to form a first developed image; a first developer unit for developing the first latent image; a second photoconductive member, closely adjacent to the first photoconductive member in a transfer region; a second imaging device for recording a second latent image on the second photoconductive member; a second developer unit for developing the second latent image to form a second developed image; a first transfer station for transferring the second developed image on the second photoconductive member to the first photoconductive member; and a second transfer station for transferring developed images on the first photoconductive member to a recording substrate.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine comprising: a photoconductive member having a path a movement through the plurality of xerographic stations, the photoconductive member including a segmented ground plane, the segmented ground plane being define into individual portions by insulating separation lines in the ground plane; and a grounding strip electrical connected each individual portions.

Abstract: A duplex/simplex printer for producing toner particle images on opposite sides of a substrate during a duplex mode or producing toner particle images on one side of the substrate during a simplex mode including: means for forming a first toner particle image on an imaging member with toner particles electrostatically charged to a first polarity; an image conditioner, being enable only during the duplex mode, for reversing the charge polarity of the particles of the first toner particle image on the imaging member; an intermediate member for receiving of the first toner particle image during the duplex mode; a bias transfer roll, positioned opposed from the imaging member with the intermediate member therebetween, for transferring the first image to the intermediate member by moving the intermediate member and the imaging member past the bias transfer roll being charged at the first polarity during the duplex mode, the duplex mode includes the forming means forming a second toner particle image on the imaging

Abstract: A duplex/simplex printer for producing toner particle images on opposite sides of a substrate during a duplex mode or producing toner particle one side of the substrate during a simplex mode including: means for forming a first toner particle image on an imaging member with toner particles electrostatically charged to a first polarity; an image conditioner, being enable only during the duplex mode, for reversing the charge polarity of the particles of the first toner particle image on an imaging member; an intermediate member for receiving of the first toner particle image during the duplex mode; a bias transfer roll, positioned opposed from the imaging member with the intermediate member therebetween, for transferring the first image to the intermediate member by moving the intermediate member and the imaging members past the bias transfer roll being charged at the first polarity during the duplex mode, the duplex mode includes the forming means forming a second toner particle image on the imaging member wit

Abstract: In a printing system on-line sheet output system with a rotating disks type sheet inverter and stacker in which the printed sheets are individually registered and rotated for inversion before being released for stacking while partially held in slots in the disks, an integral on-line hole punching system is provided for selectively outputting those sheets with or without a preselected hole pattern. A plurality of laterally repositionable sheet punches are integrally rotatable with the sheet inverter disks and positioned to punch a sheet while that sheet is moving and being individually rotated for inversion by the disks, by engagement of the punches by sheet punch actuators, before that sheet is released for stacking. The sheet punches may be sequentially and/or profiled cam gradually activated as the sheet is rotated to reduce the maximum required sheet punching force.

Abstract: In a sheet output system with a stacking tray for accumulating, registering, and stacking on top of preceding sheets in a superposed set stack the printed sheets sequentially individually outputted by a reproduction system; a low force sheet hole punching system integral the output stacking tray for punching holes through only one individual sheet at a time on top of the set stack, before the next sequential sheet is so registered and stacked, with all of the sheets having underlying commonly superposed sheet holes which function as a punch die.

Abstract: Intermediate transfer assemblies, and printing machines and methods which use such assemblies, which inductively dry liquid images on an intermediate transfer member. The assemblies include an intermediate transfer member that receives a liquid image which is comprised of a liquid carrier and toner particles. An induction coil assembly comprised of a ferromagnetic core wrapped with a plurality of turns of a conductive element and which is spaced apart from the intermediate transfer member creates alternating magnetic flux lines which create eddy currents in a conductive heating element, causing that element to heat. If the conductive heating element is part of the induction coil assembly heat is radiated onto the liquid image. If the conductive heating element is part of the intermediate transfer member the heat is conducted to the liquid image. In either case the heat dries the liquid image by causing the liquid carrier to evaporate.

Abstract: A copying apparatus including a transparent glass platen (10) across which documents for copying are moved. On its face remote from that across which documents are moved, the platen carries a layer (11) of a material which has a lower surface resistivity than the glass, and is typically less than 10.sup.9 ohms per square. The conductive layer is electrically connected, for example to ground, so as to remove electrostatic charge from the platen.

Abstract: A bottom sheet separator-feeder for separating and forwarding sheets seriatim from the bottom of a stack of sheets includes a stack tray and endless vacuum belts extending through the front end of the tray for acquiring and advancing the bottom sheet, the belts extending across a support surface having vacuum ports therein for applying a negative pressure at the back of the belts. In order to reduce unwanted vacuum effects upstream of the vacuum ports, a transverse lip extends across the support surface upstream of the vacuum ports.