Abstract:
A printer having a developer station for holding a supply of developer which includes magnetized carrier particles, a magnetized development roller, and an imaging roller proximate the development roller which collects carrier particles during operation of the printer. A scavenger proximate the imaging roller and the development roller removes the carrier particles from the imaging roller during operation of the printer which are then urged through a slot in the scavenger by the magnetized development roller.
Abstract:
A productivity module for increasing duplex throughput of a first print engine includes a second print engine, a controller, and an inverter. The controller is configured to receive one or more timing signals from the first print engine and synchronize timing of the second print engine with the first print engine based at least in part on the timing signals received from the first print engine. The inverter has an input paper path having an entrance configured to accept one or more receiver sheets from the first print engine; an output paper path having an exit configured to supply the one or more receiver sheets to the second print engine; and an inversion paper path having an entrance coupled to an exit of the input paper path and an exit coupled to an entrance of the output paper path.
Abstract:
A method and related apparatus for inverting receivers in a plurality of physically coupled print engines by using an inverter such that one or more images are digitally printed on designated receiver sheets whereby all receiver sheets that can be inverted are inverted and those that cannot be inverted are not inverted. A skip frame is added to the first print engine preceding each noninvertible receiver sheets.
Abstract:
A print engine synchronization system apparatus enables the movement of a first print engine dielectric support member (DSM) having one or more image frames as well as the movement of a second print engine DSM having one or more image frames by monitoring a first frame signal from the moving first print engine DSM and a second frame signal from the moving second print engine DSM. An offset is determined for each of corresponding pairs of frames from the one or more image frames of the first and second print engine DSM and the determined offset for each corresponding pair of frames is compared to a target offset to maintain synchronization between the first and second print engines on a frame by frame basis by adjusting a second print engine DSM velocity based on the comparison of the determined offset and the target offset.
Abstract:
A print engine synchronization method enables the movement of a first print engine dielectric support member (DSM) having one or more image frames as well as the movement of a second print engine DSM having one or more image frames by monitoring a first frame signal from the moving first print engine DSM and a second frame signal from the moving second print engine DSM. An offset is determined for each of corresponding pairs of frames from the one or more image frames of the first and second print engine DSM and the determined offset for each corresponding pair of frames is compared to a target offset to maintain synchronization between the first and second print engines on a frame by frame basis by adjusting a second print engine DSM velocity based on the comparison of the determined offset and the target offset.
Abstract:
A method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder with positive air pressure-separator during a feed cycle wherein the vacuum and the positive pressure air are controlled by a vacuum valve and a positive air pressure valve respectively, wherein the paper is taken away by a belt which is activated when a feed clutch is energized, comprising actuating the vacuum at the start of the feed cycle and de-actuated the vacuum when the feed clutch is de-energized, and pulsing the positive air pressure separator by actuating and de-actuating the positive air pressure separator during the feed cycle.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for advancing a receiver into registered relationship with a moving image-bearing member. A motor is provided that is responsive to motor drive pulses. A drive member engages the receiver, and a drive coupling connects the drive member and the motor. An encoder generates encoder pulses that correspond with movement of the image-bearing member. A pulse generator generates motor drive pulses in response to the encoder pulses to accelerate the receiver to a speed approximately equal to the speed of the image-bearing member speed. A timer determines an amount of delay time between detection of the receiver by an in-track sensor and the beginning of a subsequent movement of the motor. A delay mechanism delays the acceleration of the receiver to the image-bearing member speed by the amount of delay time.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for moving a receiver into a registered relationship with a moving image-bearing member in a registration mechanism. The apparatus and method account for receivers that arrive at the registration mechanism outside a normal operating time window. When a receiver arrives too late, the receiver is accelerated to a speed greater than that of the moving image-bearing member for a period of time sufficient to account for the arrival delay. The receiver is then decelerated to a speed substantially equal to that of the image-bearing member. When a receiver arrives too early, the receiver is brought to a stop for a period of time sufficient to account for the early arrival. The receiver is then accelerated to the image-bearing member speed.
Abstract:
A method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder, which may or may not have a positive air pressure separator, during non-feed cycle time. “The result being” to separate a sheet from a sheet supply stack, which method comprises agitating the top sheets in the stack by actuating the vacuum and/or the positive air pressure separator during non-feed cycle time.
Abstract:
A sheet feeder having a platform for supporting a stack of sheets, a feed head assembly for feeding sheets seriatim from the top of a sheet supply stack on the platform, a mechanism for moving the platform relative to the feed head assembly, and a device for controlling operation of the platform moving mechanism. The control device for the platform moving mechanism includes a sensor for detecting marginal edges of sheets in the sheet stack on the platform, and producing a signal indicative of sheet edge detection. Additionally, a sensor is provided for detecting the location of the topmost sheet on the sheet stack on the platform, and producing a signal indicative of such top sheet location detection. A signal is set representative of the top of the sheet stack being in proper operative relation to the feed head assembly, this set signal being based on the signal from the top location sensor for the particular location of the top of the stack when the marginal sheet edge detection signal is first produced. Periodically thereafter, a control signal is produced for actuating the sheet stack supporting platform moving mechanism until the signal indicative of detection of the topmost sheet from the top location sensor is substantially equal to the set signal.