Abstract: The present disclosure is a simple method to compensate for development starvation in an existing development control system already using solid area development and halftone development patches. By using a small aperture specular sensor, it is possible to measure the starvation and compare with a standard. Defect level can then be addressed by correcting toner concentration to reduce the image density defect at the solid/halftone boundary.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) useful in printing for charging a photoconductor and for cleaning a scorotron grid is disclosed. The apparatus can include a scorotron frame (110) and a scorotron charge member (120) coupled to the scorotron frame, where the scorotron charge member can be configured to generate an electric field. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid (130) coupled to the scorotron frame, the scorotron charging grid having a length axis, a width axis, and a height axis, and the scorotron charging grid including a scorotron charging grid surface having a plurality of openings. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid cleaner (140) coupled to the scorotron charging grid, where the scorotron charging grid cleaner can be configured to travel along the scorotron charging grid length axis and clean the scorotron charging grid.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) useful in printing for charging a photoconductor and for cleaning a scorotron grid is disclosed. The apparatus can include a scorotron frame (110) and a scorotron charge member (120) coupled to the scorotron frame, where the scorotron charge member can be configured to generate an electric field. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid (130) coupled to the scorotron frame, the scorotron charging grid having a length axis, a width axis, and a height axis, and the scorotron charging grid including a scorotron charging grid surface having a plurality of openings. The apparatus can include a scorotron charging grid cleaner (140) coupled to the scorotron charging grid, where the scorotron charging grid cleaner can be configured to travel along the scorotron charging grid length axis and clean the scorotron charging grid.

Abstract: A development station that improves toner halftone dot development over a wide range of environmental conditions includes a developer housing for retaining semi-conductive carrier particles and toner particles, a first magnetic roll having a stationary core with at least one magnet and a sleeve having longitudinal grooves that rotates about the stationary core of the first magnetic roll, a second magnetic roll having a stationary core with at least one magnet and a sleeve having longitudinal grooves that rotates about the stationary core of the second magnetic roll, an environmental sensor for generating an environmental condition signal, a variable voltage supply coupled to the first magnetic roll and the second magnetic roll, and a control circuit for adjusting an output level for the variable voltage supply.

Abstract: This is a cleaning system useful in an electrophotographic marking system which takes up a small space in space important marking apparatus. It involves applying an asymmetric AC wave-form to a cleaning brush. Wrong sign or unwanted toner will be attracted to this cleaner brush and removed from the system.

Abstract: This is a cleaning system useful in an electrophotographic marking system which takes up a small space in space important marking apparatus. It involves applying an asymmetric AC wave-form to a cleaning brush. Wrong sign or unwanted toner will be attracted to this cleaner brush and removed from the system.

Abstract: A development station in an electrostatographic imaging machine may be controlled to improve toner halftone dot development over a wide range of environmental conditions.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus with the capacity to reduce or clean wire history. The cleaning is performed by supplying a voltage burst to shift, relative to nominal, the D.C. component of the electrode bias relative to the electrical bias of the donor member during the movement of the inter-imaging region through the development zone. A voltage shift may also be applied to electrically bias the donor member relative to the photoreceptor belt during the movement of the inter-imaging region through the development zone. These voltage shifts may be conducted individually or simultaneously.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus with the capacity to reduce or clean wire history. The cleaning is performed by supplying a voltage burst to shift, relative to nominal, the D.C. component of the electrode bias relative to the electrical bias of the donor member during the movement of the inter-imaging region through the development zone. A voltage shift may also be applied to electrically bias the donor member relative to the photoreceptor belt during the movement of the inter-imaging region through the development zone. These voltage shifts may be conducted individually or simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the quality of an image that has been developed by a liquid carrier is disclosed. Generally speaking, the invention is a blotter roll which includes an absorbing layer wrapped around a non-permeable rigid core. A vacuum system communicates with the exterior surface of the blotter roll to remove the excess fluid from the blotter roll and transport it out of the printing system.

Abstract: A rapid warm-up fuser belt (and fusers and marking machines that use such a fuser belt) comprised of a conductive substrate having a resistive heating layer on one side and a release layer on the other side. The fuser belt further enables an electrical contact to the conductive substrate. Electrical current passing through the conductive substrate and through the resistive heating layer, causes the resistive heating layer to heat. The fuser belt can either provide for a direct electrical connection to the resistive heating layer, or it can include a semiconductive layer on the resistive heating layer that improves the electrical connection to the resistive heating layer.

Abstract: Three fuser rollers cooperate with a pressure roller to form an extended fusing zone through which a substrate carrying toner images passes with the toner images contacting a fusing belt. Electrical power is applied to the three fuser rolls in such a manner that the portions of the belt in a fusing zone are heated to a predetermined operating temperature in accordance with a setpoint temperature. The free extent of the belt or in other words the portion of the belt outside of the fusing zone is adapted to be heated to various operating temperatures in order to produce prints with different gloss as desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing color images on the electrophotographic printing machine with liquid developer, wherein there is enabled with such developers in embodiments excellent fixing characteristics especially when the developed image being in two distinct liquid phases is transferred from an intermediate substrate to the final substrate, such as paper. In embodiments of the present invention there is provided developers and processes for achieving high fix. The liquid developed image is concentrated to 30 to 45 percent solid by removing carrier liquid and thereafter heated on the intermediate substrate.

Abstract: A liquid developing material-based electrostatographic printing system including a carrier imbibing intermediate transfer member for absorbing liquid carrier from a liquid developed image transported thereon. A liquid extraction system is also provided for extracting imbibed liquid carrier from the liquid carrier imbibing layer of the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: Printing machines which incorporate a transfusing station having a transfusing member with a resistive heater layer, a substrate, and a release layer. The transfusing station is entrained between at least two electrically conductive contact members, such as rollers, which electrically contact the heater layer. An electrical source sends current through the conductive rollers and the heater layer, heating that layer, the substrate, the release layer, and any toner on the release layer. A backup roller adjacent the transfusing member and the conductive rollers induces pressure on marking substrates which pass between the backup roller and the transfusing member. The combination of heat from the heater layer and pressure induced by the backup roller causes any toner image on the transfusing member to fuse onto the marking substrate. The release layer assists in transferring the toner onto the marking substrate.

Abstract: A transfusing member having a compression layer comprised of a highly conformable, low durometer material with a low surface tension. The transfusing member forms a first transfer nip characterized by a first pressure with a photoreceptive surface and a second transfer nip characterized by a second pressure, which is of the same order of magnitude as the first pressure, with a backup roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring concentrations of a first vapor pressure carrier fluid component and a second vapor, pressure carrier fluid component in a carrier fluid mixture, including a supply vessel for holding the carrier fluid mixture. A light source is provided for transmitting an infrared light source to the carrier fluid mixture. Detector is provided for detecting infrared light intensity transmitted through the carrier fluid mixture, and, in response thereto, determining infrared absorption of carbon hydrogen stretching frequencies of the carrier fluid mixture. And means are provided for calculating concentrations of the first carrier fluid component and the second carrier fluid component in the mixture based on the infrared absorption of carbon hydrogen stretching frequencies of the carrier fluid mixture. This method can also be extended to a mixture of more than two fluids. A means for maintaining a predetermined ratio of the carrier fluids.

Abstract: Three fuser rollers cooperate with a pressure roller to form an extended fusing zone through which an electrically resistive substrate carrying toner images passes with the toner images contacting fusing belt. Electrical power is applied to the three fuser rolls in such a manner that only the portions of the belt between the rollers are heated. The energy is concentrated only in the part of the fusing belt where it is needed for fusing the toner images on the final substrate. Thus free extent of the belt or in other words the portion of the belt outside of the fusing zone remains unheated. To ensure good electrical contact in the presence of silicone oil contamination on the inner surface of the fusing belt the contact rollers are textured by knurling, bead blasting or other suitable techniques. Such treatment produces high and low surface areas, the former providing the good electrical contact.

Abstract: A belt fuser for fusing toner images to transparency material without having to resort to off-line methods and apparatus. The toner images which are formed on the transparency during the imaging process have time to cool prior to separation from a smooth-surfaced belt.The peak fusing temperature is significantly higher than used with conventional fusers such as heat and pressure roll fusers. This higher temperature guarantees excellent toner melting and flow thereby producing transparencies with excellent projection efficiency.

Abstract: A power controller, which does not rely on the use of sensors such as thermistors to control the operating temperature of a belt fuser is provided. It features various preset inputs to control; steady state watts/in, cold start boost watts/in, warmup and cooldown time constants.The controller sets the desired power based on the on-off cycling of the system. For a cold start, the steady state plus boost power is used, during warmup the boost level is exponentially decreased at a rate set by a warmup time constant. When at rest (with no applied power) the power setpoint is exponentially increased at a rate set by a cooldown time constant.