Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for detecting partial electrical discharges in a printing machine and for determining the source of the discharge events by detecting radio frequency signals using an antenna located near high voltage components of the printing system and determining whether a partial electrical discharge has occurred based on the detected signals. One or more of the high voltage components are then selectively enabled alone or in groups to isolate the source of the partial electrical discharge to expedite identification of suspect components and facilitate repair and system maintenance.

Abstract: A hybrid printing system including (a) a machine frame; (b) a multi-color image producing module mounted within the machine frame and including color image output terminals and an endless intermediate transfer member for receiving color images from the color image output terminals to form a multi-color image; (c) a separate black image producing module mounted within the machine frame spaced from the multi-color image producing module and including a black image output terminal; and (d) a print media transport/transfer module mounted within the machine frame for receiving and moving image receiving print media through the machine frame, the print media transport/transfer module including a repositionable electrostatic transport/transfer member having multi-positions including (i) a first position forming a first image transfer nip with the endless intermediate transfer member, and (ii) a second position forming a second image transfer nip with the black image output terminal.

Abstract: A hybrid printing system including (a) a machine frame; (b) a multi-color image producing module mounted within the machine frame and including color image output terminals and an endless intermediate transfer member for receiving color images from the color image output terminals to form a multi-color image; (c) a separate black image producing module mounted within the machine frame spaced from the multi-color image producing module and including a black image output terminal; and (d) a print media transport/transfer module mounted within the machine frame for receiving and moving image receiving print media through the machine frame, the print media transport/transfer module including a repositionable electrostatic transport/transfer member having multi-positions including (i) a first position forming a first image transfer nip with the endless intermediate transfer member, and (ii) a second position forming a second image transfer nip with the black image output terminal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for detecting partial electrical discharges in a printing machine and for determining the source of the discharge events by detecting radio frequency signals using an antenna located near high voltage components of the printing system and determining whether a partial electrical discharge has occurred based on the detected signals. One or more of the high voltage components are then selectively enabled alone or in groups to isolate the source of the partial electrical discharge to expedite identification of suspect components and facilitate repair and system maintenance.

Abstract: A printing machine is arranged to detect an arcing event. An arcing detection signal based on the arcing event is formed. The arcing detection signal includes an arcing detection signal frequency and an arcing detection signal amplitude. The arcing detection signal frequency value and the arcing detection signal amplitude value are used to detect the occurrence of an arcing event. Once an arcing event is detected, an arcing level corresponding to the severity of the arcing event is determined. At least one arcing remedy based on the arcing level then is performed. The arcing remedy comprises any of logging the arcing event, generating a maintenance message, performing a maintenance procedure, informing a maintenance person, dispatching a maintenance person and powering-down the printing machine.

Abstract: An engraving holder (15) comprising a tray (16) adapted to be engaged by an engraving machine (18) and comprising at least one recess (19), the recess containing a mold (20), the mold comprising a cavity (21) adapted to hold an engraveable item (22) and having an inner surface (23) conforming to the shape of at least a portion of the outer surface (45) of the engraveable item. The tray may comprise multiple recesses containing multiple molds and the molds may have multiple cavities and the inner surfaces of the cavities may be of different shapes. The tray may have a recess that is defined by a bottom surface (24) and a side surface (32) extending from the bottom surface and may further comprise a notch (37) extending into the tray from the side surface. The notch (38a, 34e) may extend between the side surfaces (32a and 25e) of at least two recesses (19a and 19e) of the tray. The mold may be vulcanized rubber and the device may further comprise a jewelry item positioned in the cavity and an engraving machine.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for predicting the end of life of a photoreceptor, first records sampled data, then processes the data in order to interpolate the photoreceptor's end of life. Increased prediction accuracy is realized since both global photoreceptor information concerning a population of photoreceptors as well as information directed to a specific photoreceptor operating under particular environmental conditions are taken into account. This information is used not only to predict photoreceptor end of life but to make adjustments in the printing machine to correct xerographic degradations. In one embodiment, the information is used to direct an embedded end of life predictions system for notifying service at a remote site of photoreceptor problems in the printing machine in such a manner that it is transparent to a user of the printing machine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining a constant voltage potential on a photoconductive member within an electrophotographic printing system comprises and utilizes, respectively, a charging device, a voltage monitor and a controller. The charging device produces a voltage potential on a photoconductive member within the electrophotographic printing system. The voltage monitor measures the voltage on the photoconductive member and generates a voltage measured signal. The controller, responsive to the voltage measure signal, stores a target voltage value and computes the difference of the measured voltage signal and the target voltage value to obtain a voltage error for a prior print job. The controller computes a predicted control signal for the corresponding cycle of the next successive print job as a function of the voltage error and regulates the charging device for the corresponding cycle of the next successive print job as a function of the predicted control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the concentration of toner within a developer material of carrier and toner. The apparatus having a control means for generating a toner addition signal indicative of the amount of toner to be added to the developer material. The control means including the ability to measure the concentration of toner within the developer material during at least a first period and a second period subsequent to the first period. The control means also determining a first concentration error as a function of the deviation between the toner concentration measured during the first period and a reference toner concentration and a second concentration error as a function of the deviation between the toner concentration measured during the second period and the reference toner concentration. Subsequently, the control means generates the toner addition signal as a function of the first and second concentration error values.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops a latent image with marking particles. The marking particles are transported through a path in which the marking particles rotate and translate in the portion of the path remote from the latent image and rotate in the portion of the path adjacent the latent image. In this way, the latent image attracts a portion of the marking particles to form a particle image and the marking particles translate from a receiving region to a discharge region.

Abstract: An apparatus which controls air flowing into and out of a chamber in a housing to minimize the escape of particles therefrom.