Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to hard imaging apparatus charging devices, imaging assemblies, imaging assemblies charging methods, and hard imaging device image bearing member charging methods. In one aspect, a hard imaging apparatus charging device is disclosed. The charging device includes first and second end members, and an intermediate member connecting the first and second end members. The intermediate member may have a length corresponding to an imaging area of the image bearing member of the hard imaging apparatus. The intermediate member may be configured to charge the imaging area used to form latent images on the image bearing member during hard imaging operations of the hard imaging apparatus. The first and second end members of the charging device may be configured to maintain a predetermined spaced charging clearance between the intermediate member and the imaging area of the image bearing member.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to hard imaging device charging systems, liquid electrophotography charging systems, hard imaging apparatuses, and hard imaging device electrophotography charging methods. In one embodiment, a hard imaging device charging system is described. The charging system may include a first charging device configured to charge a respective first region of a cylindrical image bearing member used to form latent images during hard imaging operations of the hard imaging device. The charging system may also include a second charging device configured to charge a respective second region of the cylindrical image bearing member used to form latent images during hard imaging operations of the hard imaging device. The first and second regions may have different radii from a central axis of the cylindrical image bearing member.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to hard imaging apparatus charging devices, imaging assemblies, imaging assemblies charging methods, and hard imaging device image bearing member charging methods. In one aspect, a hard imaging apparatus charging device is disclosed. The charging device includes first and second end members, and an intermediate member connecting the first and second end members. The intermediate member may have a length corresponding to an imaging area of the image bearing member of the hard imaging apparatus. The intermediate member may be configured to charge the imaging area used to form latent images on the image bearing member during hard imaging operations of the hard imaging apparatus. The first and second end members of the charging device may be configured to maintain a predetermined spaced charging clearance between the intermediate member and the imaging area of the image bearing member.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to hard imaging device charging systems, liquid electrophotography charging systems, hard imaging apparatuses, and hard imaging device electrophotography charging methods. In one embodiment, a hard imaging device charging system is described. The charging system may include a first charging device configured to charge a respective first region of a cylindrical image bearing member used to form latent images during hard imaging operations of the hard imaging device. The charging system may also include a second charging device configured to charge a respective second region of the cylindrical image bearing member used to form latent images during hard imaging operations of the hard imaging device. The first and second regions may have different radii from a central axis of the cylindrical image bearing member.

Abstract: Electronic display devices and methods are described. In one embodiment, a display device comprises a housing and a display area provided within the housing to display content for a user. Memory is provided within the housing to hold data that is to be rendered into user-viewable content. An electrophotographic assembly is provided within the housing and is configured to electrophotographically render user-viewable content from the data that is held in the memory. A loop of material is disposed proximate the electrophotographic assembly and is configured to receive electrophotographically rendered content and present the content for user viewing within the display area. A control area is provided on the housing and includes one or more user-engagable structures to permit a user to interact with the device. The control area is positioned on the housing to accommodate one-handed use of the device.

Abstract: In one embodiment an electronic display device comprises a housing, a display area provided within the housing to display content for a user, memory within the housing to hold data that is to be rendered into user-viewable content, an electrophotographic assembly within the housing configured to electrophotographically render user-viewable content from the data that is held in the memory, a loop of material disposed proximate the electrophotographic assembly and configured to receive electrophotographically rendered content and present the content for user viewing within the display area, and a control area on the housing comprising one or more user-engagable structures to permit a user to interact with the device, the control area being positioned on the housing to accommodate one-handed use of the device.

Abstract: A system for projecting electrically conductive or semi-conductive toner directly on to print media using a direct electrostatic projection printing device that includes a projection control electrode positioned between a reference electrode and an orifice plate. A mechanism is provided for generating a first electric field between the reference electrode and the orifice plate to form a cloud of toner particles between the reference electrode and the orifice plate. A mechanism is also provided for intermittently generating a second electric field between the projection control electrode and the orifice plate to project toner particles through the orifice plate on to a sheet of paper.

Abstract: Solar powered electronic display devices and methods are described. In one embodiment, a device comprises a housing (102) and a display area (104) within the housing to display content for a user. Memory (310, 312) is provided within the housing to hold data that is to be rendered into user-viewable content. An electrophotographic assembly (200) is provided within the housing and is configured to electrophotographically render user-viewable content from the data that is held in the memory. A loop of material (202) is disposed proximate the electrophotographic assembly (200) and is configured to receive electrophotographically rendered content and present the content for user viewing within the display area. A power source is provided and comprises a solar panel member (107) disposed on the housing for converting solar power into electrical power to power the device. The power source can also include one or more batteries, with the solar panel member supplementing the batteries.

Abstract: Electronic display devices and methods are described. In one embodiment, a display device comprises a housing with a display area to display content for a user. Memory within the housing holds data that is to be rendered into user-viewable content. A loop of material is provided within the housing and is configured to display user-viewable content for the user. An exposure station is provided internally of the loop of material and is configured to expose selected portions of the loop of material so that the loop of material can receive and retain toner thereon to provide the user-viewable content from the data that is held in the memory. In another embodiment, a display device comprises a toner shuttling system within the housing that is configured to shuttle toner between different locations within the housing from which the toner can be used and reused.

Abstract: Toner processing systems and electronic display devices and methods are described. In one embodiment, a toner processing system comprises an enclosure and an electrostatic toner recovery assembly supported within the enclosure for electrostatically recovering unfused toner from a print media surface. A toner development assembly is supported within the enclosure proximate the electrostatic toner recovery assembly and is configured to receive recovered toner from the electrostatic toner recovery assembly for reuse on the print media surface.

Abstract: The present invention includes image forming devices, imaging assemblies, sensors, and methods of forming an image. One aspect of the present invention provides an image forming device including a housing configured to guide media along a media path: an input device configured to receive an image; a sensor adjacent the media path and configured to monitor the media and to generate a signal responsive to the monitoring; and an imager adjacent the media path and configured to provide developing material corresponding to the image upon the media according to an imaging parameter and to adjust the imaging parameter responsive to the signal.

Abstract: An imaging device is enabled to stabilize toner mass usage by implementing a closed loop feedback system. Actual toner mass per area used is compared with a target mass per area reference to produce an error signal for modifying toner consumption in the imaging device. A method for stabilizing toner mass consumption in an imaging device includes calculating first indicia indicative of an actual mass per area of toner consumed in the imaging device, comparing the first indicia with second indicia indicative of a target mass per area of toner consumed, and modifying toner consumption in the imaging device based on the comparing. In a preferred embodiment, a toner level sensed is compared to an original toner reference amount to produce a toner mass used. Pixels rendered are tracked to calculate a total area imaged relative to a time frame established in association with the original toner reference amount. The total mass used is divided by the total area imaged to produce the actual mass per area used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a pixel in an image forming device includes split developing the pixel using a split sub-pixel modulation technique. Split development provides for at least two non immediately adjacent areas of the pixel to be developed more fully than an area in between the two non immediately adjacent areas. In the context of a laser printer, the laser is sub-pixel modulated at least twice upon the electrophotoconductive drum for selected pixels, thus effectuating a reduced discharge of the drum and reduced subsequent development of toner mass thereon. This controlled amount of developed toner mass reduces toner waste and toner scatter while maintaining image integrity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to image forming devices, fusing assemblies and methods of forming an image. According to one aspect of the invention, an image forming device includes a housing including a media path configured to guide media in a downstream direction within the housing; an input device configured to receive an image; a developing assembly adjacent the media path and configured to provide developing material; a sensor adjacent the media path and configured to determine a qualitative characteristic of the media and to generate a signal indicative of the qualitative characteristic; and a fuser adjacent the media path and configured to adjust a fusing parameter responsive to the signal and to fuse the developing material corresponding to the image to the media and according to the fusing parameter.

Abstract: The present invention includes image forming devices, imaging assemblies, sensors, and methods of forming an image. One aspect of the present invention provides an image forming device including a housing configured to guide media along a media path; an input device configured to receive an image; a sensor adjacent the media path and configured to monitor the media and to generate a signal responsive to the monitoring; and an imager adjacent the media path and configured to provide developing material corresponding to the image upon the media according to an imaging parameter and to adjust the imaging parameter responsive to the signal.

Abstract: A color printer incorporating the invention hereof includes an ionographic image projection head which employs AC and DC potentials to provide an ion pool from which ions may be projected onto a movable dielectric surface. Plural developer modules are arranged about the dielectric surface, each developer module including an ion imaging head and a color toner module. Each developer module, after ion-beam imaging the movable dielectric surface, develops the charge image on the dielectric surface by bringing it into contact with a single color toner module. A processor controls each ionographic image projection head and each associated toner module to immediately apply the color toner after imaging of the dielectric surface. A transfer station is located downstream from the plural developer modules and enables transfer of the full color toned image from the dielectric surface to a sheet after a single pass of the dielectric surface past the plural developer modules.

Abstract: Embodiments of a wet contact charging method and apparatus for electrophotography charging stations are shown and described. Each embodiment includes placing a charging member, having a charge bias, against an electrophotography charge-receiving member, and placing a liquid between the charging member and charge-receiving member. Preferably, a charging roller is rotated through a liquid-filled container and the wet roller carries liquid into the nip between the roller and a photoconductor. This wet contact charging results in stable, uniform charging without photoconductor release property degradation.

Abstract: A single pass EP color printer includes a photoreceptor web having multiple layers and including a charge transport layer and a charge generation layer. Four exposure devices (e.g. either laser-based or thin film electroluminescent edge emitting (TFEL) devices) are serially arrayed along the photoreceptor web and act to expose the photoreceptor web in accordance with cyan, magenta, yellow and black color image pixel data. A liquid toner developer module is associated with each exposure device and includes a liquid toner reservoir, a developer roll for carrying the liquid toner to a transfer point and a squeegee roll. Each developer module is fixed so as to position its developer roll at a constant prescribed distance from the photoreceptor web at the toner transfer point and to create a fluid interfacial layer between its developer roll and the photoreceptor web. In addition, each squeegee roll is maintained in constant contact with the photoreceptor web.

Abstract: An electrophotographic method and apparatus for developing and printing color images by the electrostatic projection of dry powder color toners onto a photoconductive member. A plurality of color toner projection units are spaced from the photoconductive member and are AC and DC biased to sequentially project each of the cyan, yellow, magenta, and black color planes onto the photoconductive member. The photoconductive member is directly driven against an intermediate transfer member which sequentially receives and stores each of the color planes to thereby form a composite color image, and each color plane is transferred from the photoconductive member before the next color plane is received thereon.

Abstract: Image development and transfer apparatus for use in electrophotographic color printers and including a photoconductor, such as either a photoconductive drum or belt, which is spaced from sources of liquid color toners. An intermediate transport film is driven around a section of the photoconductor surface and between this surface and the sources of liquid color toners. Thus, the latent image developed on the surface of the photoconductor is transferred from the surface of the photoconductor to the outer surface of the intermediate transport film where the composite color image is developed. Then, this composite color image is transferred directly onto a print receiving media. Consequently, the photoconductor is not exposed to heat or carrier fluids during the image transfer and development process. This novel feature not only improves overall print quality on the printed media, but additionally extends the useful lifetime of the photoconductor.