Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080197853 | Electric field probe - This is an electronic scanning probe, preferably made up of at least two sensing elements, each sensing element substantially surrounded by reference electrodes. These sensing elements are separated at a distance that causes little or no cross-interference to take place between these sensing elements when positioned in concert with a surface of interest. Ideally, this probe is used in electrostatic marking systems where an electrostatic charge is placed onto a receiving surface. | 08-21-2008 |
20080199195 | Charger with a probe and controller - This is a charging assembly that is useful in marking processes with an electrostatically charged surface. The assembly includes, besides the charger, a controller and an electric field probe. Charge and current flows can be detected by the probe and corrected immediately after detection of flaws by the probe and conveyed to the controller. If flaws in the charger are determined by the probe, corrections are made to the output by a controller; this is done before a final copy or print is made. The term flaws as used means any non-uniform appearing region in the printed image or any void region within the printed image including any otherwise unacceptable defect such as a jagged line that is visible to an end user. The probe is enabled to detect and indicate flaws and the controller which is in communication with the probe takes corrective action on the flaws. The probe used is a novel probe having two sensing elements surrounded by one or more reference electrodes. | 08-21-2008 |
20080199206 | CORONA CHARGING DEVICE CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CLEANING A CORONA CHARGING DEVICE - A corona charging device cleaning apparatus and method of cleaning a corona charging device includes a support member that includes two side surfaces that face in opposite directions. A side shield cleaning member is attached to each side surface to clean an inner surface of a side shield of a corona device. The support member of the corona charging device cleaning apparatus may also include a concavity and a cavity portion. A screen grid cleaning member may be attached to the concavity of the support member to clean a screen grid of the corona charging device. A charging-component cleaning member may be disposed inside the cavity portion of the support member to clean a charging component of the corona charging device. | 08-21-2008 |
20080219701 | SQUAREWAVE CHARGING OF A PHOTORECEPTOR - Charging devices, electrostatic imaging devices, and methods generate a charging waveform having a DC bias component and an AC component for charging the imaging surface of a charge retentive member, the AC component having a substantially squarewave waveform. | 09-11-2008 |
20090252535 | HIGH STRENGTH, LIGHT WEIGHT CORONA WIRES USING CARBON NANOTUBE YARNS - Exemplary embodiments provide materials and devices for a corona charging. Specifically, carbon nanotube yarns can be used as corona wires (or coronode) in a corotron-type or scorotron-type charging device. The carbon nanotube yarns can provide small diameters, and desired electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. The carbon nanotube yarns can have a diameter of about 100 microns or less for a low operating voltage of the charging device. | 10-08-2009 |
20090274479 | WEB FED CHARGING ROLL CLEANER - An apparatus for applying an electrical charge to a charge retentive surface, wherein a bias charge roll member is situated proximately to a surface to be charged such as, a photoreceptor having a cleaning system which includes a web material in contact with the bias charge roll to remove containments thereform. | 11-05-2009 |
20090274480 | WEB FED CHARGING ROLL CLEANER - An apparatus for applying an electrical charge to a charge retentive surface, wherein a bias charge roll member is situated proximately to a surface to be charged such as, a photoreceptor having a cleaning system which includes a web material in contact with the bias charge roll to remove containments thereform. | 11-05-2009 |
20090303654 | TAILORED EMITTER BIAS AS A MEANS TO OPTIMIZE THE INDIRECT-CHARGING PERFORMANCE OF A NANO-STRUCTURED EMITTING ELECTRODE - Exemplary embodiments provide charging systems and methods for effectively delivering charges onto a receptor. The charging system can include a low velocity gas stream, an emitter assembly for providing cathode-to-anode field bias to generate charges from the low velocity gas stream, and an emitter-to-receptor (e.g., photoreceptor) electric bias to enhance the charge delivery to the receptor. The disclosed charging systems and methods can be used to achieve an optimal charging performance at a low projected cost for any suitable receptor that needs to be charged. Exemplary receptors can include a photoreceptor (PR) such as a belt PR or a drum PR, a toner layer, a sheet of media on which toner can be deposited, or a transfer belt in an electrophotographic printing machine. | 12-10-2009 |
20100086321 | DYNAMIC PHOTO RECEPTOR WEAR RATE ADJUSTMENT BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR FEEDBACK - A xerographic marking engine adjusts a charging actuator value, such as an AC peak-to-peak voltage or an AC peak-to-peak current, based on a determined knee value, V | 04-08-2010 |
20100104332 | NANOMATERIAL HEATING ELEMENT FOR FUSING APPLICATIONS - In accordance with the invention, there are printing apparatuses and methods of forming an image. An exemplary printing apparatus can include a fuser subsystem including one-or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light induced heating elements including plurality of nanomaterials, wherein the nanomaterials are selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes and metal nanoshells. The exemplary printing apparatus can also include one or more light sources disposed in close proximity to the one or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light sources having an emission in the absorption range of the plurality of nanomaterials and disposed to produce heat in the fuser subsystem by light absorption by the plurality of nanomaterials. | 04-29-2010 |
20100119261 | Charging device and an image forming device including the same - A charging device comprises first and second electrodes forming a charging zone. A plurality of nanostructures adhere to at least one of the first and second electrodes. A charging voltage supply couples to the electrodes to support the formation of gaseous ions in the charging zone. An aperture electrode or grid proximate to the first and second electrodes is coupled to a grid control voltage supply which grid control voltage supply, in turn, controls a flow of gaseous ions from the charging zone to thereby charge a proximately-located receptor. In one embodiment, the charging voltage supply is arranged to provide a pulsed-voltage waveform. In one variation of this embodiment, the pulsed-voltage waveform comprises a pulsed-DC waveform. In another embodiment, the charging voltage supply is arranged to provide an alternating-current waveform. In one embodiment, the charging device itself is comprised in an image forming device. | 05-13-2010 |
20100214580 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED SOLID AREA AND HEAVY SHADOW UNIFORMITY IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - A method for minimizing cross-process non-uniformities in solid and heavy shadow regions of printed documents is provided. The method includes marking with a marking engine an image on an image bearing surface moving in a process direction; generating profile data of the image by sensing an optical characteristic of the image in a cross-process direction; adjusting at least one control actuator of the marking engine so as to shift the characteristic of a subsequent marked image in the cross-process direction to at least a target value; and generating a spatially varying tone reproduction curve to smooth the characteristic of the subsequent marked image towards the target value. | 08-26-2010 |
20100272460 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRINT APPARATUS ROTATIONAL ASSEMBLY CLEANING BLADE ADJUSTMENT - An apparatus ( | 10-28-2010 |
20100278548 | AUTOMATED CLEANER FOR A CHARGING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus including: a first charging device for charging an imageable surface; recording means for recording an electrostatic latent image on the imageable surface; developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image with developer; a second charging device for transferring a developer image on the imageable surface onto an a substrate; control means for setting a value of the bias of either the first charging device or the second charging device from an operating bias to a testing bias; test pattern forming means for forming test patterns on the imageable surface at operating bias and said testing bias; test patterns detection means for scanning non-uniformity of the test patterns, and means for associating non-uniformity of the test patterns to a reliability condition of either the first charging device and/or second charging device. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278553 | AUTOMATED CLEANER FOR A CHARGING DEVICE - An apparatus for controlling a cleaning device for cleaning a charging device, including: means for detecting contamination on the charging device; means, in communication with detecting means, for generating a cleaning command; and a controller, responsive to the cleaning command, for controlling operation of the cleaning system. | 11-04-2010 |
20100303505 | COMPACT, LONG LIFE CHARGING DEVICE - A coronode charging device includes a support member, a filament, an adjustment mechanism and a voltage source. The lament is disposed along the support member in a configuration that creates a plurality of active regions and a plurality of inactive regions of the filament. The active regions are simultaneously positionable adjacent the photoreceptor. The inactive regions may be farther from the photoreceptor than the active regions. The adjustment mechanism moves the filament such that portions of the filament that correspond to the active regions are moved to positions that correspond to the inactive regions, and some portions of the filament that were in the inactive regions are moved to positions that correspond to the active regions. This operations extends the life of the coronode charging device. | 12-02-2010 |
20100310263 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTING BLADE LIFE IN AN IMAGE PRODUCTION DEVICE - A method and apparatus for predicting blade life in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include retrieving a number of print starts, a number of print cycles, a wear rate for print starts, and a wear rate for print cycles from a memory, calculating wear of a cleaning blade based on the number of print starts, the number of print cycles, the wear rate for print starts, and the wear rate for print cycles, wherein the wear rate for print starts and the wear rate for print cycles are weighed differently, determining if the calculated wear of the cleaning blade exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the calculated wear of the cleaning blade exceeds a predetermined threshold, sending a notification that the cleaning blade needs to be replaced. | 12-09-2010 |
20100321719 | MUTUAL ENGINE CONTROLLER - A printing device has a printing engine that is at least partially made up of a customer replaceable unit or units. An engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine. The engine controller uses software to control the operations of the printing engine. A non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. An adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the customer replaceable units. The customer replaceable unit has a memory unit and the adapter card reads data from the memory unit. The adapter card uses the data to directly alter values within the non-volatile memory by bypassing the engine controller when communicating with the non-volatile memory. Further, the adapter card alters the non-volatile memory without altering the software used by the engine controller. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321724 | MUTUALISTIC ENGINE CONTROLLER HAVING SENSOR COMMUNICATION - A printing device includes at least one printing engine that has many sensors (first sensors and second sensors) and at least one engine controller operatively connected to the printing engine. The engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. Also, at least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. At least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the first sensors and second sensors. The first sensors correspond to the design of the controller and are items designed as original equipment of the printing device. To the contrary, the second sensors correspond to the design of the adapter card and are items designed to be installed in the printing device after the printing device is in post production, customer service. The adapter card receives feedback from the first sensors and the second sensors and the adapter card reads and modifies incoming print jobs before the print jobs are delivered to the controller. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321725 | MUTUALISTIC ENGINE CONTROLLER HAVING CUSTOMER REPLACEABLE UNIT COMMUNICATION - A printing device includes at least one printing engine that comprises customer replaceable units. At least one engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine, and the engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. At least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. Additionally, at least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the customer replaceable units. The customer replaceable units each comprise a memory unit. The adapter card reads incoming print jobs before the print jobs are delivered to the controller and the adapter card accumulates and stores statistics relating to print jobs within the memory unit of the customer replaceable units. The adapter card passes the incoming print jobs to the controller in an unaltered manner. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321726 | MUTUALISTIC ENGINE CONTROLLER COMMUNICATING WIHT PRINTER NON-VOLATILE MEMORY - A printing device includes at least one printing engine that has actuators and sensors. At least one engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine, the engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. At least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. Further, at least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the actuators and sensors. The adapter card stores data and receives sensor feedback from the sensors. The adapter card uses the data and the sensor feedback to control the actuators by bypassing the engine controller when communicating with the actuators. The adapter card provides adapter card feedback to the non-volatile memory. | 12-23-2010 |
20100329701 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING PHOTORECEPTOR FAILURE IN A XEROGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS - An apparatus ( | 12-30-2010 |
20110013959 | PROCESS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CLEANING BLADE LUBRICATION STRIPES - According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an adaptive blade lubrication apparatus that includes a lubricant unit to place a lubrication stripe of lubricating material on a portion of a main surface; a cleaning blade that engages the main surface to remove excess toner thereon; and a controller configured to control the location of each lubrication stripe of lubricating material, wherein the controller places the lubricating material based on at least one of application frequency, blade lubrication state, blade engagement with the main surface. By varying the location of the lubrication stripe, the cleaning blade is better lubricated over the entire surface of the photoreceptor with the same or less lubricant than used in single location lubrication. Blade life and reliability are improved with more effective lubrication of the blade. | 01-20-2011 |
20110044742 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR XEROGRAPHIC PRINTER CLEANING BLADE LUBRICATION - An apparatus ( | 02-24-2011 |
20110158661 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING PHOTORECEPTOR CHARGE TRANSPORT LAYER THICKNESS OF APPARATUS USING A SCOROTRON CHARGE DEVICE - A photoreceptor charge transport layer thickness determining apparatus for a photoreceptor including a scorotron charge device having coronode wires and a scorotron grid positioned between the corona wires and the photoreceptor charge transport layer, the scorotron charge device being configured to charge the photoreceptor layer using corona discharge to generate ions directed to a surface of the photoreceptor charge transport layer. A first current measuring device measures a current supplied to the coronode wires and outputs a first current value, a second current measuring device measures a current being delivered to the scorotron grid and outputs a second current value, and a processor receives the first and second current values and determines a current delivered to the photoreceptor charge transport layer by subtracting the second current value from the first current value, and determines a thickness of the photoreceptor charge transport layer using the current value. | 06-30-2011 |
20110240406 | CLEANER BLADE LUBRICATION APPLICATOR - A powered lubricant fluid-delivery applicator structure comprises a casing having a closed end, and an open end opposite the closed end. A fluid-conducting applicator is located within the open end. The fluid-conducting applicator has an internal applicator section located within the casing, and an external applicator section extending outside the open end. A fluid is within the casing, and the fluid comprises a liquid and a powdered lubricant suspended in the liquid. The external applicator section comprises a tip having a V-shaped recess corresponding to a blade to which the powdered lubricant is applied. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246107 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PREDICTING THE PHOTORECEPTOR REPLACEMENT INTERVAL - A system and method by which, in photoreceptor devices that use non-contact charging, an impending failure of a photoreceptor can be accurately estimated based on a determined thickness of a charge transport layer in the photoreceptor. The systems and methods may include measuring current delivered to the photoreceptor charge transport layer, measuring voltage of the photoreceptor transport layer, determining a slope of the charge device, determining the thickness of the charge transport layer based on at least one of the measured current value, voltage value, or charge device slope, and determining a photoreceptor replacement interval based on the determined thickness. | 10-06-2011 |
20110286752 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A PHOTORECEPTOR IN A PRINTING APPARATUS - An apparatus and method that cleans a photoreceptor in a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method can include setting a voltage bias of an electrostatic cleaning brush in a printing apparatus to a first voltage bias. The method can include generating an image on media using a photoreceptor. The method can include cleaning the photoreceptor using the electrostatic cleaning brush operating at the first voltage bias. The method can include measuring operating conditions of the printing apparatus to determine an expected film accumulation rate on the photoreceptor. The method can include adjusting the voltage bias on the electrostatic cleaning brush to a second voltage bias based on the measured operating conditions. | 11-24-2011 |
20110286753 | PHOTORECEPTOR DIAGNOSTIC METHOD BASED ON DETECTION OF CHARGE DEFICIENT SPOTS - Systems and methods of diagnosing a photoreceptor associated with an imaging device. The photoreceptor is configured to enter into a diagnostic cycle to complete a set number of cycles. A sensor or array is configured to a scan a component associated with the imaging device during each of the set of cycles to establish defect data. The defect data is analyzed to filter one or more charge deficient spots (CDS) from background noise in the defect data. The systems and methods determine whether the photoreceptor needs replacement based on the determined one or more CDS. The systems and methods are further configured to output a report of the determination. The determination is conducted at fixed or variable intervals throughout the life of the photoreceptor and/or imaging device. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288821 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREDICTING THE USEABLE LIFE OF A PHOTORECEPTOR IN IMAGING DEVICES - Systems and methods of determining a predicted usable life of components, such as a photoreceptor, associated with an imaging device. The systems and methods include a power source configured to increase an electric field across the photoreceptor. A sensor or array is configured to detect charge deficient spots (CDS) in a charge transport layer (CTL) of the photoreceptor as a result of increasing the electric field. The systems and methods are configured to determine the predicted useable life of the photoreceptor based on the detected CDS. The systems and methods are further configured to output a report of the estimation. The estimation is conducted at fixed or variable intervals throughout the life of the photoreceptor and/or imaging device. | 11-24-2011 |
20110296933 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHARACTERIZING THE FLOWABILITY OF TONER PARTICLES - Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for characterizing the flowability of a dry powder, and particularly for use with toner particles. The methods and apparatuses use an optionally transparent or semi-transparent cylindrical container. When the container is partially filled with dry powder, the dry powder is aerated and torque measurements are then taken while rotating the container to determine the flowability of the dry powder. | 12-08-2011 |
20120129088 | NON-MAGNETIC SINGLE COMPONENT EMULSION/AGGREGATION TONER COMPOSITION - A toner composition with a novel surface additive package for developing images. The additive package includes sol-gel silica, a PDMS silica, an organic spacer such as PMMA and HMDS silica. The toner composition exhibits improved control of voltage, higher print density, lower toner amount remaining on the roll, lower toner usage, and reduced drum contamination. The toner composition also exhibits improved dry theological properties. These improved properties make this toner composition useful for higher speed printing while using less toner. | 05-24-2012 |
20120129089 | TONER COMPOSITIONS AND DEVELOPERS CONTAINING SUCH TONERS - A toner composition with a novel surface additive package for developing images. The additive package includes sol-gel silica, a PDMS silica, an organic spacer such as PMMA and two HMDS silicas. The toner composition exhibits improved control of voltage, higher print density, lower toner amount remaining on the roll, lower toner usage, and reduced drum contamination. The toner composition also exhibits improved dry rheological properties and improved fix properties. These improved properties make this toner composition useful for higher speed printing while using less toner. | 05-24-2012 |
20140162181 | Black Toner - The present disclosure describes a black single component toner with desirable fusing performance. | 06-12-2014 |
20140162184 | Color Toner - The present disclosure describes a color single component toner with desirable fusing performance. | 06-12-2014 |
20140178108 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR TONER CHARGING USING CHARGE/METERING BLADE HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE NIP - A developer apparatus including a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of toner, and a developer roll disposed in the chamber, the developer roll configured to rotate about a longitudinal access to transport toner on a surface of the developer roll to a development zone. The developer apparatus also includes a charge/metering blade having a curved section configured to contact the surface of the developer roll so as to form an adjustable contact nip. The charge/metering blade also includes an overhang configured to control an amount of toner to enter the adjustable contact nip formed by the at least one curved section of the charge/metering blade. | 06-26-2014 |
20140341609 | METHOD OF REMANUFACTURING A TONER CARTRIDGE AND REMANUFACTURED TONER CARTRIDGE - Provided herein is a method of remanufacturing a toner cartridge for use in a xerographic process, as well as a toner cartridge remanufactured by the disclosed method. According to one exemplary embodiment, the remanufacturing method includes electrically connecting a resistor of a predetermined resistance between a toner supply roll contact and a development roll contact, the resistor modifying the electric field between the toner supply roll and development roll, where the remanufactured toner cartridge includes toner of triboelectric charge properties different from the original toner. | 11-20-2014 |
20140363212 | CLEANING BLADE LUBRICANT HAVING HIGH ASPECT RATIO - A cleaning blade lubricant including an acicular shape lubricant is provided. The cleaning blade lubricant is applied to a cleaning blade of an electrophotographic printing device for improving the cleaning performance of a cleaning blade of an electrophotographic printing device. | 12-11-2014 |
20150030356 | CHARGE BLADE HAVING MULTIPLE CONTACT POINT METERING - A charge blade meters and applies an electrical charge to toner while the toner is on a development roll. The end portion of the charge blade comprises a first curved surface and a second curved surface touching the development roll. The first curved surface has a smaller radius and is a longer distance from the middle portion of the charge blade relative to the second curved surface. The first curved surface produces a first amount of charge in the toner on the development roll, and the second curved surface increases and makes more uniform the charge within the toner on the development roll. Also, the smaller radius of the first curved surface controls the amount of toner positioned on the development roll and the larger radius of the second curved surface does not affect the amount of toner metered by the first, smaller radius curved surface. | 01-29-2015 |
20150043949 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE CHARGE BLADES - A printing apparatus herein includes a sheet feeder and a photoreceptor adjacent the sheet feeder. The photoreceptor receives print media from the sheet feeder, and the photoreceptor transfers toner to the print media. A development roll is adjacent the photoreceptor. The development roll supplies a metered amount of charged toner to the photoreceptor. Also, a supply roll is adjacent the development roll. The supply roll supplies toner to the development roll. In this device, multiple charge blades (e.g., first, second, third, etc., charge blades) contact the development roll, and a charge generator can be electrically connected to the charge blade, supply roll, and development roll. | 02-12-2015 |
20150086916 | SELF-CLEANING TONER COMPOSITION - Toner compositions that having spherical particles and provide stable density. The toner compositions also comprise and deliver a silicone oil to the cleaning subsystem in the image forming apparatus by incorporating an inorganic fine powder additive package that has been mixed with silicone oil in a manner such that the toner is blended with the inorganic fine powder and silicone oil. | 03-26-2015 |