Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a first dynamic current reading, the dynamic current being the current supplied to a photoreceptor of the image production device, determining if the first dynamic current reading exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being a threshold set on the allowable variation in the dynamic current value, wherein if it is determined that the first dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to a cleaning device to clean the corotron, determining that the corotron has been cleaned, receiving a second current reading, determining if the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to prompt a user to replace the corotron in the image production device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for corotron cleaning management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an input from the corotron cleaning counter, determining if the corotron cleaning counter exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the corotron cleaning counter exceeds the predetermined threshold, notifying a maintainer that the corotron requires cleaning, determining if corotron cleaning has been performed, wherein if it is determined that corotron cleaning has been performed, resetting the corotron cleaning counter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor, the position of the lubrication stripe is controlled with respect to a position on the main surface of the charge receptor corresponding to a paper trail edge. The dimensions and density of the lubrication stripe may also be controlled. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. An influence of at least one corotron on the charge receptor is modified, during the designated rotations of the charge receptor, while the portion of the surface on which the lubrication stripe is formed, or will be formed, is passing the at least one corotron. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. An influence of a pre-clean corotron on the charge receptor is modified, during the designated rotations of the charge receptor, while the portion of the surface on which the lubrication stripe is formed, or will be formed, is passing the pre-clean corotron. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: A system for reducing lead edge (LE) smearing in an electrostatographic machine is provided. The system comprises a pretransfer corotron positioned between a developing station and a transfer station in an electrostatographic imaging device. The pretransfer corotron is configured to apply a predetermined charge to at least a portion of a developed toner image on a photoreceptive surface. The predetermined charge is greater than a charge applied to the rest of the developed toner image. The system further includes a controller operably associated with the pretransfer corotron. The controller is configured to activate the pretransfer corotron to apply said predetermined charge to the developed toner image at a lead edge region of the developed toner image when leading edge smearing is detected during imaging operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for corotron cleaning management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an input from the corotron cleaning counter, determining if the corotron cleaning counter exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the corotron cleaning counter exceeds the predetermined threshold, notifying a maintainer that the corotron requires cleaning, determining if corotron cleaning has been performed, wherein if it is determined that corotron cleaning has been performed, resetting the corotron cleaning counter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor, the position of the lubrication stripe is controlled with respect to a position on the main surface of the charge receptor corresponding to a paper trail edge. The dimensions and density of the lubrication stripe may also be controlled. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. An influence of at least one corotron on the charge receptor is modified, during the designated rotations of the charge receptor, while the portion of the surface on which the lubrication stripe is formed, or will be formed, is passing the at least one corotron. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. An influence of a pre-clean corotron on the charge receptor is modified, during the designated rotations of the charge receptor, while the portion of the surface on which the lubrication stripe is formed, or will be formed, is passing the pre-clean corotron. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. A primary cleaning device cleans the main surface of the charge receptor, and includes at least one biased member having an effective area associated with the main surface relative to motion of the charge receptor. A secondary cleaning device is configured to engage the main surface of the charge receptor downstream of the biased member, and a control system reverses a bias on the biased member during a time when a lubrication stripe is in the effective area of the biased member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a first dynamic current reading, the dynamic current being the current supplied to a photoreceptor of the image production device, determining if the first dynamic current reading exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being a threshold set on the allowable variation in the dynamic current value, wherein if it is determined that the first dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to a cleaning device to clean the corotron, determining that the corotron has been cleaned, receiving a second current reading, determining if the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to prompt a user to replace the corotron in the image production device.

Abstract: An improved detack corotron reduces the likelihood of a paper jam arising from a curled paper edge getting caught in the corotron. The detack corotron includes an electrically conductive coronode having a plurality of field emitters, each field emitter having a terminating end, the terminating ends of the field emitters being spatially separated from one another, and a paper edge guide having a plurality of generally planar members, the generally planar members being perpendicular to the conductive coronode and the generally planar members having a height that extends above the terminating ends of the field emitters.

Abstract: In a printing machine having at least one transfer device driven in response to an electrical signal and operable to transfer a medium onto a sheet, a method controls the magnitude of the electrical signal driving the transfer device. The method includes assigning a magnitude of the electrical signal for driving the transfer device to each of at least two transfer stress levels, evaluating only operating parameters of the printing machine that have a pre-determined priority value relative to a corresponding pre-determined threshold value, selecting one of the at least two transfer stress levels based on the evaluation of the at least one operating parameter, and applying the magnitude of the electrical signal corresponding to the selected stress level to the electrically-driven transfer device.

Abstract: In a printing machine having at least one transfer device driven in response to an electrical signal and operable to transfer a medium onto a sheet, a method controls the magnitude of the electrical signal driving the transfer device. The method includes assigning a magnitude of the electrical signal for driving the transfer device to each of at least two transfer stress levels, evaluating only operating parameters of the printing machine that have a pre-determined priority value relative to a corresponding pre-determined threshold value, selecting one of the at least two transfer stress levels based on the evaluation of the at least one operating parameter, and applying the magnitude of the electrical signal corresponding to the selected stress level to the electrically-driven transfer device.

Abstract: In a printing machine having at least one transfer device driven in response to an electrical signal and operable to transfer a medium onto a sheet, a method of controlling the magnitude of the electrical signal driving the transfer device comprises assigning a magnitude of the electrical signal for driving the transfer device to each of at least two transfer stress conditions, evaluating at least one operating parameter of the printing machine relative to a corresponding pre-determined threshold value, selecting one of the at least two transfer stress conditions based on the evaluation of the at least one operating parameter, and applying the magnitude of the electrical signal corresponding to the selected stress condition to the electrically-driven transfer device. The operating parameters may include environmental parameters, such as altitude and humidity, sheet properties, such as paper weight, and machine parameters, such as transfer device life.

Abstract: A system for reducing lead edge (LE) smearing in an electrostatographic machine is provided. The system comprises a pretransfer corotron positioned between a developing station and a transfer station in an electrostatographic imaging device. The pretransfer corotron is configured to apply a predetermined charge to at least a portion of a developed toner image on a photoreceptive surface. The predetermined charge is greater than a charge applied to the rest of the developed toner image. The system further includes a controller operably associated with the pretransfer corotron. The controller is configured to activate the pretransfer corotron to apply said predetermined charge to the developed toner image at a lead edge region of the developed toner image when leading edge smearing is detected during imaging operations.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for reducing transfer deletions in an electrostatographic machine. The apparatus includes a registration controller for driving a print substrate at a registration velocity and feeding the print substrate to an image-retentive member. The apparatus also includes a system controller operably associated with the registration mechanism controller. The system controller monitors at least one operating parameter of an image forming apparatus and generates a control signal in response to the monitored operating parameter(s). The registration controller is responsive to the control signal and is configured to adjust the registration velocity in accordance with the control signal as the image-retentive member is driven at a preselected velocity.

Abstract: A method for assisting in stripping a substrate from a charge receptor that is operable to transfer marking material to the substrate at a transfer zone, comprising determining the solid area coverage of the transfer marking material at a leading region of the substrate at the leading edge thereof, moving the substrate through the transfer zone, and applying a stripping force to the leading region of the substrate as a function of the solid area coverage operable to at least partially strip the leading region of the substrate from the charge receptor when the leading region of the traverses the transfer zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the transfer of an image from an image bearing member onto a copy substrate, comprises an image bearing member carrying an image to be transferred, a feed mechanism for feeding a copy substrate to the image bearing member, and a transfer assist mechanism movable to an activated position bearing on the substrate to maintain the substrate in contact with the image bearing member to assist in transferring the image thereto, and to a de-activated position. A sensor generates a signal in response to passage of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the substrate to ascertain an actual length of the substrate as it moves to the image bearing member. A controller is operable to direct the transfer assist mechanism to move to the activated position and then to direct the transfer assist mechanism to move to the de-activated position after a de-activation dwell time.