Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provided a method to improve performance of a cleaning device to extend a usage life of the cleaning device. The method can include obtaining a performance characteristic of an electrostatic brush that degrades operations of the electrostatic brush, determining at least one parameter that compensates for the degradation, and controlling the electrostatic brush by the at least one parameter to maintain the electrostatic brush operating within a failure boundary.

Abstract: A diagnostic system that provides a service technician with service information during servicing of an image processing apparatus includes at least one counter that is incremented during operation of the image processing apparatus, a pressure detecting unit that detects a pressure at a point in an air flow path on the condition that the at least one counter is reset to zero after initial servicing of the image processing apparatus, a determining unit that determines whether a difference between the detected pressure and a fault threshold pressure is less than a predetermined margin, and a display unit that displays a fault code indicating additional servicing of the image processing apparatus is recommended on the condition that the determining unit determines that the difference between the detected pressure and the predetermined threshold pressure is less than the predetermined margin.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for media registration setup, includes depositing developed image toner patch on a photoreceptor surface, such that the developed image patch overlaps two image panels on the photoreceptor surface. Performing toner image transfer on a media sheet in contact with the photoreceptor by applying electrostatic field to cause toner particles to migrate from the photoreceptor surface to the media. Following toner image transfer, the level of residual toner on the photoreceptor surfaces measured by sensors to determine alignment of a written lead edge and a target lead edge, the written lead edge corresponding to the lead edge of the media. The measurements are used to adjust the media registration setup such that the written lead edge corresponds to a given target lead edge.

Abstract: A diagnostic system that provides a service technician with service information during servicing of an image processing apparatus includes at least one counter that is incremented during operation of the image processing apparatus, a pressure detecting unit that detects a pressure at a point in an air flow path on the condition that the at least one counter is reset to zero after initial servicing of the image processing apparatus, a determining unit that determines whether a difference between the detected pressure and a fault threshold pressure is less than a predetermined margin, and a display unit that displays a fault code indicating additional servicing of the image processing apparatus is recommended on the condition that the determining unit determines that the difference between the detected pressure and the predetermined threshold pressure is less than the predetermined margin.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provided a method to improve performance of a cleaning device to extend a usage life of the cleaning device. The method can include obtaining a performance characteristic of an electrostatic brush that degrades operations of the electrostatic brush, determining at least one parameter that compensates for the degradation, and controlling the electrostatic brush by the at least one parameter to maintain the electrostatic brush operating within a failure boundary.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing apparatus includes a housing, a photoreceptor module located inside the housing that includes a photoreceptor, a raster output system located inside the housing for projecting an electrostatic image onto the photoreceptor, a charging station, a developer station, a transfer station, a pre-fuser transport, and a fusing station. The module may be removed from an operating position inside the housing. The transfer station is connected to the pre-fuser transport so that they are constrained to move as one unit when the photoreceptor module is in its operating position inside the housing but are disconnected when the photoreceptor module is removed from its operating position inside the housing. The transfer module may be mounted so as to be constrained by a pre-fuser transport.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a charge device is used to apply a charge to a photoreceptor. The charge device includes a wire. A shuttle moves along the charge device, and includes a brush wherein the sides of the bristles contact the wire. When the brush moves along the wire, an accumulation of stray particles on the wire is made relatively smooth.

Abstract: Sheet separation, feeding and printing with reduced image deletions of various types of print media sheets from a stack thereof, especially coated print media sheets with high humidity adhesion difficulties, is assisted by a sheet air puffer for a sheet separator/feeder having an automatically variably heated air supply. This may be accomplished by electronically obtaining information on the selected type of print media sheets to be fed from the sheet separator/feeder, and the ambient conditions, including at least the humidity, and by combining that information in an electronic look-up table additionally provided with set points to produce a control signal for variable air puffer temperature and strength.

Abstract: A photoreceptor module located within a housing. The photoreceptor module includes a photoreceptor belt, a belt support to maintain the belt in a desired configuration, and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly is operably positioned in close proximity to the belt, and may be moved away from the belt while both are within the housing to ease clearance of paper jams.

Abstract: An improved coronode assembly includes pin guards that are positioned closely spaced from and extending above a coronode in order to provide protection for a user reaching past the coronode to remove a sheet jam, and prevent coronode damage when the coronode is handled during servicing by a field service technician. The closeness of the pin guards to the coronode also serves to produce a more uniform field.

Abstract: In a xerographic printing apparatus, a charge device is used to apply a charge to a photoreceptor. The shuttle includes a wiper that cleans a sidewall of the charge device. A tab is disposed adjacent the sidewall to retain toner or dirt accumulated by the scraper. The tab is electrically insulative, and effectively covers the accumulated toner or dirt, to lower the possibility of arcing within the charge device.

Abstract: An electrostatographic printing apparatus comprises a charge receptor, and a transfer station for transferring a toner image from the charge receptor to a sheet. The sheet passes through a nip formed between the charge receptor and a moving transfer belt. Upstream of the nip, the belt forms a shallow angle relative to the charge receptor; downstream of the nip, the belt forms a steep angle relative to the charge receptor. This configuration enables self-stripping of the sheet from the transfer belt at the exit of the nip.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the timing of a transfer assist blade in an electrostatographic imaging system. The apparatus and method operate by partially toning an area of the photoreceptor and then actuating the transfer assist blade such that it smears at least a portion of the partially toned area. Using an electronic toner area cover sensor system, the amount of smearing can be determined, From this, the timing of engagement of the transfer assist blade with the photoreceptor can be determined and, if necessary, adjusted.

Abstract: A guide system for xerographic printing apparatus introduces paper bearing an unfixed image and having a broad range of basis weights into a fuser nip from a prefuser transport without causing image smear. An entrance baffle is positioned in the path of the paper advancing toward the fuser nip for engagement by the paper's leading edge. The entrance baffle is hinged at its mounting end for swinging movement between a maximal and minimal positions as defined by stop members and is biased into engagement with the minimal stop member. The magnitude of the bias is chosen such that as the lightest basis weight paper engages the entrance baffle, it bends around its free end and is guided into the fuser nip, and such that as the heaviest paper engages the entrance baffle, it forces the entrance baffle toward engagement with the second stop member and itself is guided into the fuser nip.

Abstract: A guide system for xerographic printing apparatus introduces paper bearing an unfixed image and having a broad range of basis weights into a fuser nip from a prefuser transport without causing image smear. An entrance baffle is positioned in the path of the paper advancing toward the fuser nip for engagement by the paper's leading edge. The entrance baffle is hinged at its mounting end for swinging movement between a maximal and minimal positions as defined by stop members and is biased into engagement with the minimal stop member. The magnitude of the bias is chosen such that as the lightest basis weight paper engages the entrance baffle, it bends around its free end and is guided into the fuser nip, and such that as the heaviest paper engages the entrance baffle, it forces the entrance baffle toward engagement with the second stop member and itself is guided into the fuser nip.

Abstract: An apparatus which transfers a developed image from a photoconductive member to a sheet. A sheet baffle guides an advancing sheet to the photoconductive member at the transfer station. A sheet guide having an elongated axis extending in a transverse direction to the planar surface of the imaging member; said sheet guide including a roller assembly on a sheet exit portion of said sheet guide.

Abstract: A sequential transfer-assist blade assembly includes (a) a first cam and blade assembly including a first blade segment having a first length (A1) and being movable for first contacting a first size image receiving sheet having a first center location and a first width (A2); (b) a second cam and blade assembly including a second blade segment and a third blade segment each having a second length (B1), and each being located adjacent a first end and a second end respectively of the first blade segment, the first, the second and the third blade segments being moveable for contacting a second size image receiving sheet such that the second and the third blade segments contact the second size image receiving sheet after the first blade segment, the second image receiving sheet having a center location coincident with the first center location, and having a second width (A2+2×B2); and (c) a third cam and blade assembly including a fourth blade segment and a fifth blade segment each having a third length

Abstract: A dual cam set transfer assist blade system comprising (a) a first set of cam and blade assemblies mounted on a rotatable shaft and each including a cam having a single lobe for rotation in a first direction to cause engagement of a first set of transfer assist blade segments corresponding to a first set of sheet widths, and (b) a second set of cam and blade also assemblies mounted on the rotatable shaft and each including a cam having a first lobe for rotation in a first direction to cause engagement of a second set of transfer assist blade segments corresponding to said first set of sheet widths, and a second lobe for rotation in a second direction to cause engagement of said second set of transfer assist blade segments corresponding to a second set of sheet widths.

Abstract: A device and method of enhancing contact between a photoconductive member of a electrophotographic printing machine and the paper to which an electrostatic latent image is to be transferred uses an array of wiper blade segments mounted on a common shaft. Each segment is attached to the shaft for limited rotational movement on the shaft in opposition to a torsion spring. The torsion spring biases the blade segment towards the paper. Some of the blade segments are operatively associated with a stop mechanism to control the length of the wiper blade array in accordance with the size of the paper being processed. The stop mechanism prevents movement of the blade segment into engagement with the paper by restraining movement of the segment against its torsion spring.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring an image from an imaging surface to a sheet. The apparatus includes a transfer assist blade having a contact surface which is moved from a nonoperative position spaced from the sheet, to an operative position, in contact with the sheet for pressing the sheet into contact with the image. The transfer assist apparatus includes a cleaning member for cleaning the contact surface as it moves between the operative and nonoperative positions.