Abstract: A method for manufacturing a transfer member suitable for use in an image forming system. A liquid polymer is applied to an internal surface of a rotating drum, spun flat, and cured in place. Additional components of the belt are applied to the rotating mold to form a multi-layered transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming system having two simplex print engines is provided that transfers and fuses two images on either side of a substrate in a single nip. The two images can be formed simultaneously at the single nip.

Abstract: An image forming system having two simplex print engines is provided that transfers and fuses two images on either side of a substrate in a single nip. The two images can be formed simultaneously at the single nip.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a circuit for driving control electrodes between a reset voltage and an adjustable extraction voltage. The circuit includes a reset switch having first and second terminals with the first terminal being connected to a high voltage source. A plurality of set switches, each capable of assuming an on state and an off state connected such that a first terminal of each set switch is connected to a corresponding one of the control electrodes and a second terminal is connected to a low voltage source. The circuit further includes a plurality of diodes, each being connected between the second terminal of the reset switch and a corresponding one of the control electrodes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a transfer member suitable for use in an image forming system. A liquid polymer is applied to an internal surface of a rotating drum, spun flat, and cured in place. Additional components of the belt are applied to the rotating mold to form a multi-layered transfer member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and circuit for driving control electrodes between a reset voltage and an adjustable control voltage. The circuit includes a reset switch capable of assuming a first state and a second state, the reset switch including a first terminal connected to a first voltage source; a plurality of diodes, each one of the plurality connected between a second terminal of the reset switch and a corresponding one of the control electrodes; and a plurality of voltage control switches, each voltage control switch being capable of assuming an active state and an inactive state, each voltage control switch including a first terminal connected to a corresponding one of the control electrodes and a second terminal connected to a second voltage source, wherein the extraction voltage supplied to a control electrode is adjusted by adjusting the length of time that the corresponding voltage source is made active.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a circuit for driving control electrodes between a reset voltage and an adjustable extraction voltage. The circuit includes a reset switch having first and second terminals with the first terminal being connected to a high voltage source. A plurality of set switches, each capable of assuming an on state and an off state connected such that a first terminal of each set switch is connected to a corresponding one of the control electrodes and a second terminal is connected to a low voltage source. The circuit further includes a plurality of diodes, each being connected between the second terminal of the reset switch and a corresponding one of the control electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and circuit for driving control electrodes between a reset voltage and an adjustable control voltage. The circuit includes a reset switch capable of assuming a first state and a second state, the reset switch including a first terminal connected to a first voltage source; a plurality of diodes, each one of the plurality connected between a second terminal of the reset switch and a corresponding one of the control electrodes; and a plurality of voltage control switches, each voltage control switch being capable of assuming an active state and an inactive state, each voltage control switch including a first terminal connected to a corresponding one of the control electrodes and a second terminal connected to a second voltage source, wherein the extraction voltage supplied to a control electrode is adjusted by adjusting the length of time that the corresponding voltage source is made active.

Abstract: In a printing system a first endless imaging member, such as a belt or drum, moves past an imaging station where it receives a dry toner image, and contacts a second endless imaging member to transfer the toner image to the second member. The first and the second imaging members are each operated isothermally with at least the second member at a temperature T2 higher than the softening temperature of the toner which, in turn, is above the temperature T1 of the first member. The first member has a hard abrasion-resistant and preferably smooth surface with a surface energy under about 20 dynes per centimeter, while the second member is both softer and has a higher surface energy, but still below that of the ultimate imaging substrate, e.g., paper, and has a thickness and compressibility that allow it to conform. In a preferred system, a charge-deposition cartridge deposits a latent charge image on a dielectric layer to attract and hold toner particles.

Abstract: An imaging system, or unit of an imaging system, and a method of imaging employing a single imaging member to form a liquid-toned image, to condition the image, and to transfuse it to a print-receiving medium. The member moves through three sections, with the image formed in the first section, then changing state in each successive section. In a preferred embodiment, a heat exchanger uses heat from the third section to extract the liquid carrier from the toned image while it is in the second section. Condensed carrier replenishes toner, cooling the first section. Multicolor printing is effected by employing several such units, one for each color, to transfuse colored images in succession onto a receiving member.

Abstract: A compact printer includes a print roll on which a latent image is deposited, toned, then heated and transferred in a "transfuse" step. A commutating heater selectively heats a surface sector of the rotating roll for transfusing the image and roll cleaning, and the roll body remains below a toner agglomeration temperature. The roll has a rigid core and a surface structure that includes a plurality of heater lines and a hardcoated elastomeric imaging layer covering the heater lines. The imaging layer includes a conductive sublayer and a dielectric surface layer, both having greater thermal conductivity than an outer region of the core so that heat from the heaters preferentially flows to the deposited toner image. The printer scrolls portions of a latent image, which is toned, heated and transferred onto a separate recording member to form a final image having, in general, a much greater surface area than the roll.

Abstract: An oscillation circuit having multiple separately addressable oscillator stages for applying RF voltage across selected capacitive loads where each stage includes a power driver, a transformer and a quench/clamp circuit. The oscillation circuit includes one enablement circuit responsive to an externally applied enablement signal and address signal and a common feedback circuit connected between one end of all of the transformers and the enablement circuit. An externally applied address signal and an enable signal selects a particular oscillator stage and initiates action of a power/driver circuit to provide an initial pulse of AC current through the associated transformer for a preset period and the feedback circuit detects negative zero crossovers of the waveform of current through that transformer primary to maintain actuation of the driver circuit for as long as the external enable signal is present.

Abstract: The flash units are housed in reflector assemblies and actuated in a sequence that entirely exposes both sides of the sheet while drawing a constant amount of electrical power. Constructions of the reflector include an extruded housing, snap-in replaceable reflector surfaces, and a manifold structure that achieves cooling, fume scavenging and paper flattening. In one embodiment a two-sided sheet moves past a pair of oppositely directed flash units which are powered by a single power supply. A specularly reflective surface provides a level of reflected illumination which complements the light received directly from the flash tube to provide a constant level of illumination and fuse a toned image.

Abstract: A printer autocontrast system measures the current passing from a toner reservoir to a charged dielectric member which receives toner from the reservoir. The charge delivered to the drum in this way is scaled and compared to an estimate of the intended image charge to develop an error signal. The error signal corrects a control parameter to adjust the operation of an electrographic printhead which forms a latent image on the dielectric member.

Abstract: There is described a cartridge mounting for locating a cartridge in a printer adjacent a print drum for receiving a charge image from the cartridge. The cartridge includes a spine and has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the print drum and an inner face adjacent the image receiving portion of the drum surface. The mounting has provision for locating the cartridge radially in relation to the axis of rotation of the drum and for biasing the cartridge towards the drum surface. Further provision is made for locating the cartridge tangentially in opposition to the direction of travel of the drum surface. Spacers extend from the inner face of the cartridge to abut the drum surface at a sliding contact, thus spacing the cartridge a predetermined distance from the surface.

Abstract: Ionographic raster scan printing apparatus capable of printing with selectable print density utilizes an imaging drum having a surface movable in a process direction, a connector assembly for receiving an imaging module having a characteristic dot density determined by a set of control electrodes individually driven by clocked driver elements, a sensor module for generating density signals representative of the characteristic dot density, and a position encoder for generating position signals representative of the instantaneous position of the imaging drum surface. A scan clock synthesizer module generates activation signals for clocking the driver elements, the signals having a clock frequency proportional to an algebraic combination of the density signals and the position signals.

Abstract: A toner system for delivering powder toner from a storage hopper to an element carrying an electrostatic pattern of charge to be toned before transfer to a receptor such as paper includes a scavenger which, when coupled to the toner system can be actuated to develop a slight negative pressure in the toner system sufficient to entrap flow enhancers such as zinc stearate and to remove the non-magnetic zinc stearate from the toner system. The scavenger includes baffles for collecting particles and means for developing the negative pressure in the toner system.The toner system also includes a pair of magnetic clips for positioning on the metering blade of the toner system to define the width of the toner path being transfered from the toner system to the electrostatic image on the dielectric surface and a cleaning device which periodically moves along the metering blade to clean the front of the metering blade of any accumulated toner.

Abstract: The invention provides an agitator for releasing powder toner through a bottom opening of a hopper. The agitator has a screen for placing over the opening and an element which, when positioned in the hopper, is in contact with the upper surface of the screen. Toner normally bridges the openings in the screen so that there is normally no flow through the screen and the element is operable to brush over the upper surface of the screen to break down the bridging locally, thereby effectively sifting powder toner through the screen. On stopping the element, the toner again bridges the openings and flow of toner stops. The invention also provides a feeder which magnetically transports toner received from the hopper, and an applicator which takes the toner magnetically from the feeder and transports the toner to the point of use.