Abstract: A fuser assembly is provided comprising: a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt; a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt; a temperature sensor associated with the backup member for sensing the temperature of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the heater and the temperature sensor. The controller controls the operation of the heater based on the backup member temperature.

Abstract: A printer is provided comprising substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates along a substrate path through the printer; a fuser assembly comprising a heat transfer member including a belt and a heater to heat the belt, a backup member adapted to engage the belt so as to define a fusing nip with the belt, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a portion of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor. Based on signals generated by the temperature sensor, the controller determines whether a substrate moving along the substrate path has been contacted by the backup member portion.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods for transitioning between color printing and black-only printing in an image forming device. A cartridge is moved between a first position in which color printing may occur and a second position in which black-only printing may occur. In the first position, a color developer unit may be in contact with a color photoconductor unit. The color developer unit may be spaced from the color photoconductor unit in the second position. During the transition, a voltage supplied to the cartridge and a speed of a drive motor driving the cartridge may be adjusted.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for moving a cartridge between engaged and disengaged positions in an image forming device. The image forming device may include a bias control arm movable between first and second positions. When the bias control arm is in one of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is reduced and the cartridge moves to the disengaged position. When the bias control arm is in the other of the first and second positions, a biasing force on the cartridge is increased and the cartridge is moved to the engaged position. In one embodiment, the bias control arm moves in a first direction, and the cartridge moves in a second direction different than the first direction.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods for determining when to transition between printing color images and printing black-only images in an image forming device. A variety of factors may be evaluated in order to select a trigger value. An examined portion of a print history and an examined portion of a print queue may be evaluated to determine one or more test values. Based on a comparison of the one or more test values with the trigger value, a determination may be made whether to transition between color printing and black-only printing.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for controlling a motor in an image forming device by sensing the amount of current applied to the motor. One embodiment includes a power supply operatively connected to a controller. The power supply provides an electrical current to a motor, and the amount of current is measured. The controller monitors the amount of current and determines an operating condition of the motor based on the current. The controller may then continue to allow the power supply to provide the electrical current to the motor, or may shut off the current based on the operating condition. The controller may also monitor a timer to determine how long the power supply has provided current to the motor. In one embodiment, the controller may use both the signal and monitored time to determine the operating condition of the motor.

Abstract: Methods and devices for moving media sheets through an image forming device. A sensor is positioned within an input area to determine a height of a media stack. When the media stack is full, a top-most sheet of the media stack is physically closer to the beginning point of the media path. When the media stack is depleted, the top-most sheet is positioned a further distance away from the beginning point. Movement of the media sheet is determined based on the height of the media stack. When the media stack is above a predetermined amount, the media sheet is moved according to a first algorithm. When the media stack is below the predetermined amount, the media sheet is moved according to a second algorithm.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and devices for determining the presence of a module and presence of a media sheet in a media path using output signals from a single sensor in an image forming device. One embodiment includes a sensor which may be oriented in a variety of positions through interaction with the module and the media sheet. An algorithm may be used to determine the presence of the module in a module insertion path and presence of the media sheet in the media path based on the position of the sensor.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods and devices for a control system to regulate the output voltage of a high voltage power supply (HVPS) in an image forming device. In one embodiment, the HVPS comprises at least two voltage sources connected in series. A print engine controller is configured to disable at least one of the voltage sources when a voltage draw of a load exceeds a maximum differential voltage of the at least two voltage sources.

Abstract: A backup system, apparatus and method to provide a backup of information associated with replaceable devices in an image forming apparatus, such as a color printer. The information may include information representing use of the replaceable devices. The image forming apparatus may include a system memory for storing the replaceable device information. A backup memory may be located on at least one of the replaceable devices to provide a backup of the replaceable device information. The backup memory may allow the replaceable device information to be transferred to another image forming apparatus, for example, when exchanging replaceable devices from a failing apparatus to a replacement apparatus.

Abstract: A device and method for moving media sheets within an image forming apparatus. The device includes a motor; a pick mechanism operatively connected to the motor, a first gear set having a first ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the pick mechanism, a feed nip operatively connected to the motor to receive the media sheet and forward the media sheet along a media path, and a second gear set having a second gear ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the feed nip. The motor may operate at a constant speed and drive the pick mechanism at a first speed and the feed nip at a second speed. The first and second speeds may be the same, or the speeds may be different.

Abstract: Upon initialization of an image-forming device, a sensor generates a signal to indicate the presence of packaging material at a location within the image-forming device. The image-forming device displays a message to a user responsive to this signal. The message may include a graphical representation of the image-forming device that graphically indicates access to the location. Upon user request, the image-forming device may also display instructions on how to remove the packaging material from the location. The instructions may also include a graphical representation of the location within the image-forming device, and text describing how to remove the packaging material from the location. The sensor generates another signal when it senses that the packaging material has been removed from the location. Once the packaging materials have been removed, the image-forming device completes the initialization procedure in preparation for image-forming operations.

Abstract: During a calibration procedure, a first duration between a leading edge trigger corresponding to a leading edge of the media sheet passing a known point in a media path and a feedback event indicating a media sheet in the transfer nip by changes in the transfer current caused by the impedance of the media sheet is calculated and stored. A second duration between a trailing edge trigger and a feedback event indicating no media sheet in the transfer nip may be calculated and stored. During a print operation, a controller delays by the first duration after a leading edge trigger and then increases the transfer voltage. The transfer voltage is decreased following a delay of the second duration after a trailing edge trigger.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device may use a feedback loop to track impedance characteristics of a feedback loop comprising an interface between a first component and a second component disposed and adapted to transfer a toner image therebetween. A controller may execute a search algorithm between printed pages to track the impedance characteristic and selectively adjust a transfer voltage used to transfer the toner image between the first and second component. The search algorithm may be a shortened version of a transfer servo algorithm that is used to identify the impedance characteristic. The shortened transfer servo algorithm is configured to complete in an inter-page gap or abort if the inter-page gap is too short. By tracking the impedance characteristics of the transfer interface, capacitive effects may be accounted for.

Abstract: The application is directed to methods for moving a media sheet through the media path of an image forming device. In one embodiment, the media sheet may be moved by a pick mechanism having a pick roll from an input tray. The pick roll in the input tray may maintain contact with the media sheet and drive the sheet at a first elevated speed as it moves towards the nip. The pick roll may then slow as it brings the leading edge into contact with the nip. This slower speed may reduce the amount of nip shock or compression that may cause reengagement of the pick mechanism and an unintentional double sheet feed. Moving the media sheet at the fast speed a majority of the distance along the media path between the input tray and nip may increase media throughput.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods for moving a media sheet along a media path of an image forming device. The media path may include first and second sections. A sensor that detects the media sheet moving along the media path may be positioned between the first and second sections. The media sheet moves through the first section and past the sensor causing the sensor to send a signal to a controller. The media sheet may be moved at differing speeds past the sensor causing the sensor to be activated when the sheet is moving at a first speed, and deactivated when the media sheet is moving at a second speed. The controller may adjust the speed of one or both of the first and second sections based on the signal or signals received from the sensor.

Abstract: A method for associating a customer accessible supply item of a first type with an imaging apparatus includes communicating identification information between the customer accessible supply item of the first type and the imaging apparatus; and operationally locking the customer accessible supply item of the first type with only the imaging apparatus based on the identification information, to the exclusion of other imaging apparatuses and other customer accessible supply items of the first type.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner within the container. The waste toner system may detect the accumulation of waste toner by monitoring a drive control circuit while the toner distributing member is being driven. For example, the system may detect excess accumulation by comparing the monitored values of a frequency control signal with one or more reference values corresponding to nominal accumulation conditions. An extension may be employed whereby movement of the toner distributing member creates interference between the toner distributing member and the container when the toner distributing member reaches a predetermined position. The interference may be detectable from the drive control circuit as an indication of a full condition.

Abstract: A resistive heater adapted for heating a fuser belt is provided. The heater comprises a substrate, a first resistive trace formed over the substrate, and a second resistive trace formed so as to at least partially overlap the first resistive trace.

Abstract: An image forming device in a color printer or the like includes duplex printing. Multiple media sheets are moved through a media path which includes a primary path and a duplex path. Various parameters of the image forming device control the interpage gap between sheets. Parameters include peek-a-boo duplexing, sharing of motors within the drive rollers, and sharing of power supplies.