Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide methods, materials and devices for a corona charging. Specifically, carbon nanotube yarns can be used as corona wires (or coronode) in a corotron-type or scorotron-type charging device. The carbon nanotube yarns can provide small diameters, and desired electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. The carbon nanotube yarns can have a diameter of about 100 microns or less for a low operating voltage of the charging device.

Abstract: A toner composition with a novel surface additive package for developing images. The additive package includes sol-gel silica, a PDMS silica, an organic spacer such as PMMA and HMDS silica. The toner composition exhibits improved control of voltage, higher print density, lower toner amount remaining on the roll, lower toner usage, and reduced drum contamination. The toner composition also exhibits improved dry theological properties. These improved properties make this toner composition useful for higher speed printing while using less toner.

Abstract: A toner composition with a novel surface additive package for developing images. The additive package includes sol-gel silica, a PDMS silica, an organic spacer such as PMMA and two HMDS silicas. The toner composition exhibits improved control of voltage, higher print density, lower toner amount remaining on the roll, lower toner usage, and reduced drum contamination. The toner composition also exhibits improved dry rheological properties and improved fix properties. These improved properties make this toner composition useful for higher speed printing while using less toner.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) for print apparatus rotational assembly cleaning blade adjustment is disclosed. The apparatus can include a printer rotational transport assembly (110) configured to transport a substance in a printer. The apparatus can include a cleaning blade (120) coupled to the printer rotational transport assembly and a cleaning blade sensor (130) coupled to the cleaning blade, where the cleaning blade sensor can be configured to sense cleaning blade stress condition information. The apparatus can include a controller (140) coupled to the cleaning blade and the cleaning blade sensor, where the controller can be configured to adjust cleaning blade parameters of operation based on the sensed cleaning blade stress condition information.

Abstract: A coronode charging device includes a support member, a filament, an adjustment mechanism and a voltage source. The lament is disposed along the support member in a configuration that creates a plurality of active regions and a plurality of inactive regions of the filament. The active regions are simultaneously positionable adjacent the photoreceptor. The inactive regions may be farther from the photoreceptor than the active regions. The adjustment mechanism moves the filament such that portions of the filament that correspond to the active regions are moved to positions that correspond to the inactive regions, and some portions of the filament that were in the inactive regions are moved to positions that correspond to the active regions. This operations extends the life of the coronode charging device.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide charging systems and methods for effectively delivering charges onto a receptor. The charging system can include a low velocity gas stream, an emitter assembly for providing cathode-to-anode field bias to generate charges from the low velocity gas stream, and an emitter-to-receptor (e.g., photoreceptor) electric bias to enhance the charge delivery to the receptor. The disclosed charging systems and methods can be used to achieve an optimal charging performance at a low projected cost for any suitable receptor that needs to be charged. Exemplary receptors can include a photoreceptor (PR) such as a belt PR or a drum PR, a toner layer, a sheet of media on which toner can be deposited, or a transfer belt in an electrophotographic printing machine.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that senses photoreceptor failure in a xerographic printing apparatus is disclosed. The xerographic printing apparatus can include a rotatable photoreceptor (110) having a photoreceptor surface (111), a cleaning device (124) for removing marking material from the photoreceptor, and a printing apparatus controller (150) that controls operations of the xerographic printing apparatus. The method can include charging (220) the photoreceptor surface to a fixed voltage. The method can include discharging (230) at least a portion of the charged photoreceptor surface to an exposed voltage. The method can include developing (240) the discharged portion of the photoreceptor surface by providing a cleaning field between the charged photoreceptor surface fixed voltage and a developing bias voltage. The method can include reducing (250) the cleaning field. The method can include generating (260) a developed image on the photoreceptor using the reduced cleaning field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting blade life in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include retrieving a number of print starts, a number of print cycles, a wear rate for print starts, and a wear rate for print cycles from a memory, calculating wear of a cleaning blade based on the number of print starts, the number of print cycles, the wear rate for print starts, and the wear rate for print cycles, wherein the wear rate for print starts and the wear rate for print cycles are weighed differently, determining if the calculated wear of the cleaning blade exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the calculated wear of the cleaning blade exceeds a predetermined threshold, sending a notification that the cleaning blade needs to be replaced.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are printing apparatuses and methods of forming an image. An exemplary printing apparatus can include a fuser subsystem including one or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light induced heating elements including plurality of nanomaterials, wherein the nanomaterials are selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes and metal nanoshells. The exemplary printing apparatus can also include one or more light sources disposed in close proximity to the one or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light sources having an emission in the absorption range of the plurality of nanomaterials and disposed to produce heat in the fuser subsystem by light absorption by the plurality of nanomaterials.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for characterizing the flowability of a dry powder, and particularly for use with toner particles. The methods and apparatuses use an optionally transparent or semi-transparent cylindrical container. When the container is partially filled with dry powder, the dry powder is aerated and torque measurements are then taken while rotating the container to determine the flowability of the dry powder.

Abstract: Systems and methods of diagnosing a photoreceptor associated with an imaging device. The photoreceptor is configured to enter into a diagnostic cycle to complete a set number of cycles. A sensor or array is configured to a scan a component associated with the imaging device during each of the set of cycles to establish defect data. The defect data is analyzed to filter one or more charge deficient spots (CDS) from background noise in the defect data. The systems and methods determine whether the photoreceptor needs replacement based on the determined one or more CDS. The systems and methods are further configured to output a report of the determination. The determination is conducted at fixed or variable intervals throughout the life of the photoreceptor and/or imaging device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that cleans a photoreceptor in a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method can include setting a voltage bias of an electrostatic cleaning brush in a printing apparatus to a first voltage bias. The method can include generating an image on media using a photoreceptor. The method can include cleaning the photoreceptor using the electrostatic cleaning brush operating at the first voltage bias. The method can include measuring operating conditions of the printing apparatus to determine an expected film accumulation rate on the photoreceptor. The method can include adjusting the voltage bias on the electrostatic cleaning brush to a second voltage bias based on the measured operating conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining a predicted usable life of components, such as a photoreceptor, associated with an imaging device. The systems and methods include a power source configured to increase an electric field across the photoreceptor. A sensor or array is configured to detect charge deficient spots (CDS) in a charge transport layer (CTL) of the photoreceptor as a result of increasing the electric field. The systems and methods are configured to determine the predicted useable life of the photoreceptor based on the detected CDS. The systems and methods are further configured to output a report of the estimation. The estimation is conducted at fixed or variable intervals throughout the life of the photoreceptor and/or imaging device.

Abstract: A powered lubricant fluid-delivery applicator structure comprises a casing having a closed end, and an open end opposite the closed end. A fluid-conducting applicator is located within the open end. The fluid-conducting applicator has an internal applicator section located within the casing, and an external applicator section extending outside the open end. A fluid is within the casing, and the fluid comprises a liquid and a powdered lubricant suspended in the liquid. The external applicator section comprises a tip having a V-shaped recess corresponding to a blade to which the powdered lubricant is applied.

Abstract: A system and method by which, in photoreceptor devices that use non-contact charging, an impending failure of a photoreceptor can be accurately estimated based on a determined thickness of a charge transport layer in the photoreceptor. The systems and methods may include measuring current delivered to the photoreceptor charge transport layer, measuring voltage of the photoreceptor transport layer, determining a slope of the charge device, determining the thickness of the charge transport layer based on at least one of the measured current value, voltage value, or charge device slope, and determining a photoreceptor replacement interval based on the determined thickness.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are electron emitters, charging devices, and methods of forming them. An electron emitter array can include a plurality of nanostructures, each of the plurality of nanostructures can include a first end and a second end, wherein the first end can be connected to a first electrode and the second end can be positioned to emit electrons, and wherein each of the plurality of nanostructures can be formed of one or more of oxidation resistant metals, doped metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, doped metal oxides, and ceramics. The electron emitter array can also include a second electrode in close proximity to the first electrode, wherein one or more of the plurality of nanostructures can emit electrons in a gas upon application of an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A photoreceptor charge transport layer thickness determining apparatus for a photoreceptor including a scorotron charge device having coronode wires and a scorotron grid positioned between the corona wires and the photoreceptor charge transport layer, the scorotron charge device being configured to charge the photoreceptor layer using corona discharge to generate ions directed to a surface of the photoreceptor charge transport layer. A first current measuring device measures a current supplied to the coronode wires and outputs a first current value, a second current measuring device measures a current being delivered to the scorotron grid and outputs a second current value, and a processor receives the first and second current values and determines a current delivered to the photoreceptor charge transport layer by subtracting the second current value from the first current value, and determines a thickness of the photoreceptor charge transport layer using the current value.

Abstract: A photoreceptor charge transport layer thickness determining apparatus for a photoreceptor including a scorotron charge device having coronode wires and a scorotron grid positioned between the corona wires and the photoreceptor charge transport layer, the scorotron charge device being configured to charge the photoreceptor layer using corona discharge to generate ions directed to a surface of the photoreceptor charge transport layer. A first current measuring device measures a current supplied to the coronode wires and outputs a first current value, a second current measuring device measures a current being delivered to the scorotron grid and outputs a second current value, and a processor receives the first and second current values and determines a current delivered to the photoreceptor charge transport layer by subtracting the second current value from the first current value, and determines a thickness of the photoreceptor charge transport layer using the current value.

Abstract: A xerographic marking engine adjusts a charging actuator value, such as an AC peak-to-peak voltage or an AC peak-to-peak current, based on a determined knee value, VKNEE, of a charge curve for an imaging apparatus photoreceptor within the xerographic marking engine and environmental sensor data. The environmental sensor data may measure environment temperature and environment humidity. In near A-zone environments, for example, operational environments in which the temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the relative humidity is 80%, the charging actuator value may be selected to achieve a predetermined photoreceptor wear rate that avoids print quality defects due to lateral charge migration. In other than A-zone environments, the charging actuator value may be selected to minimize the photoreceptor wear rate, while avoiding print quality defects. The described approach allows optimal photoconductor wear to be achieved, in all operational environments, without increasing the risk of print quality defects.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that lubricates a cleaning blade in a xerographic printer is disclosed. The apparatus can include a charge receptor (110), movable in a process direction P, where the charge receptor can have a main surface (111). The apparatus can include a cleaning station (123) configured to clean the main surface of the charge receptor, where the cleaning station can include a cleaning blade (124) coupled to the main surface of the charge receptor. The apparatus can include a cleaning blade lubrication module (118) configured to place a lubrication stripe (160) on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. The apparatus can include a controller (150) coupled to the cleaning blade lubrication module and coupled to the charge receptor. The controller can be configured to substantially park the cleaning blade in the lubrication stripe when the charge receptor is stopped.