Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080199196 | Machine Specific Transfer Bias Timing Adjustment - 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. If the leading and trailing edge triggers occur at the same location along the media path, the first duration may be used for both delays, | 08-21-2008 |
20090060556 | Dual-Range Power Supply For An Image Forming Device - 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. | 03-05-2009 |
20090153922 | Multifunction Sensor for An Image Forming Device - 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. | 06-18-2009 |
20090185197 | Control Of Motors In An Image Forming Device - 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. | 07-23-2009 |
20090232538 | Methods For Determining When To Transition Between Color Printing And Black-Only Printing In An Image Forming Device - 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. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232545 | Devices And Methods For Retracting A Cartridge In An Image Forming Device - 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. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232554 | Methods To Control Transitions Between Color Printing And Black-Only Printing In An Image Forming Device - 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. | 09-17-2009 |
20090245835 | PRINTER INCLUDING A FUSER ASSEMBLY WITH BACKUP MEMBER TEMPERATURE SENSOR - 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. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245837 | FUSER ASSEMBLY HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL - A printer is provided comprising substrate transport apparatus for moving substrates through the printer along a substrate path; a pick mechanism for removing substrates from a storage tray and feeding the substrates to the substrate transport apparatus; 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 associated with the backup member for sensing the temperature of the backup member; and a controller coupled to the substrate transport apparatus, the pick mechanism, the heater and the temperature sensor. The controller causes the pick mechanism to remove substrates from the storage tray at a first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature within a first backup member index temperature range and at different pick rate less than the first pick rate when the backup member is at a temperature greater than the first backup member index temperature range. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245838 | FUSER HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL - 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. | 10-01-2009 |
20090245839 | Fuser Assembly Fan Control - A printer is provided including a reference edge, a fuser assembly, a cooling apparatus and a controller. The reference edge is adapted to be contacted by a substrate as the substrate moves along a substrate path through the printer. The fuser assembly includes a heat transfer member including a belt and a backup member. The cooling apparatus is adapted to move cooling air capable of cooling the fuser assembly. The controller is configured to activate the cooling apparatus after determining that a first end portion of the backup member opposite a second end portion of the backup member near the reference edge is at a temperature above a predefined first threshold temperature. | 10-01-2009 |
20100013143 | Method for Dynamically Lifting Elevator Platform of Media Input Tray During Ongoing Media Process - A method for dynamically lifting an elevator includes picking a sheet from a stack to feed to a media process where the stack is on a platform that can be lifted by an elevator, performing the media process, sensing a top of the stack to detect presence or absence of the stack at a media home position, sensing the top of the stack to detect presence or absence of the stack on the platform, sensing the platform to detect its presence or absence at a maximum elevator level, and indexing the stack at least once by lifting the platform through a given distance, during the media process and not during picking a sheet, unless presence of the top of the stack at the media home position is sensed or absence of media sheets on the elevator platform is sensed or presence of the elevator platform at the maximum elevator level is sensed. | 01-21-2010 |
20100014881 | Method and Printer Assembly for Consistent Power Control in Fuser Assembly of Electrophotgrahic Printer - A method for setting a heater element of a fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition to achieve consistency in heating power measurement is provided. The heater element is heated to a first predefined temperature when the temperature of the heater element is less than the first predefined temperature. The temperature of the heater element is maintained within a predefined range for a predefined period of time. This sets the temperature of the heater element in the fuser assembly to a consistent starting condition. Thereafter, the heating power estimation measurement is made and heating power supplied to the fuser assembly is estimated. This controls the heating power delivered to the fuser assembly in a consistent manner. | 01-21-2010 |
20100038844 | Media Handling System for Maintaining Stack Top Within Given Range of Pick Positions During Feeding Sheets From Stack Top - A media handling system includes a platform, a bin supporting the platform below and for undergoing movement toward and away from a sheet feeding position, a first motion transmitting assembly coupled between the platform and bin and tailored to counterbalance the weight of the platform and any stack such that as the weight decreases the platform is lifted toward the sheet feeding position to maintain the stack top below a lower limit position thereof, a control mechanism to sense the position of the stack top relative to a given range between the lower limit position to an upper home position, and a second motion transmitting assembly drivingly coupled to the platform via the first motion transmitting assembly and responsive to the control mechanism sensing to cause the first motion transmitting assembly to further lift the platform to and maintain the stack top position within the given range. | 02-18-2010 |
20100038846 | Media Handling System for Lowering and Raising Stack Platform Responsive to Moving Bin Between External and Internal Positions - A media handling system for an image forming machine includes a stationary frame, a platform supporting a stack of media sheets thereon, a bin supporting the platform and in turn supported on the stationary frame for undergoing movement relative thereto between a first position in which the bin locates the platform below and aligned with a pick mechanism and movable relative to the bin toward and away from the pick mechanism and a second position in which the bin displaces the platform away from and out of alignment with the pick mechanism, and a motion transmitting assembly coupled between the stationary frame, platform and bin and operable to convert movement of the bin between first and second positions relative to the stationary frame into movement of the platform relative to the bin toward and away from the pick mechanism. | 02-18-2010 |
20100165361 | Method for Reducing Consumables Usage Based on Job Size - A method implemented by a processor of a printer for reducing consumables usage based on job size includes entering different settings for an n-up printing mode in the printer based on job size such that a job size of one page will be printed 1-up, or on a full page, by the printer, a job size of two and three pages will be printed 2-up, or on a half page, by the printer, and a job size of four pages will printed 4-up, or on a quarter page, by the printer and/or entering a threshold setting for a duplex printing mode in the printer based on job size such that a job size below the threshold will be printed in a simplex mode whereas job size at or above the threshold will be printed in a duplex mode. The method also includes enabling user selection of n-up setting or threshold setting for jobs of predetermined size. | 07-01-2010 |
20100166447 | POWER CONTROL FOR A PRINTER FUSER - A system for delivering desired magnitudes of AC power to a load. A three-cycle power mode includes a 1 | 07-01-2010 |
20100329705 | CONTROL OF OVERHEATING IN AN IMAGE FIXING ASSEMBLY - An image fixing assembly includes a heating unit having a heating element and a fusing member enclosing the heating element; a backup member; and a heat conducting member. The fusing member is configured to rotate around the heating element. Further, the fusing member is capable of being heated by the heating element. The backup member is abuttingly coupled to the fusing member for configuring a nip portion therebetween, and is capable of pressing media sheets against the fusing member, when the media sheets pass through the nip portion. The heat conducting member is capable of retractably coupling to one of the fusing member and the backup member for enabling flow of heat between the one of the fusing member and the backup member, and the heat conducting member, for reducing a thermal gradient. Further disclosed is a method for fixing images on the media sheets using the image fixing assembly. | 12-30-2010 |
20110097663 | Printer Including a Fuser Assembly with Backup Member Temperature Sensor - 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. | 04-28-2011 |
20110205557 | Method for Printing a Simplex Print Job in Between Images of a Duplex Print Job - A method for transferring images, to media sheets, of a simplex print job including a simplex image and a duplex print job including a first image and a second image received at an image forming apparatus having a duplexer and a media path having a duplex portion. During printing the second image of the duplex print job is printed on a first side of a first media sheet and the first media sheet is sent into duplexer and the duplex portion of the media path. Next, the first image of the simplex print job is transferred to a second media sheet and sent to an output bin, and finally the first image of the duplex print job is transferred to a second side of the first media sheet. The first image of the simplex print job is printed on the second media sheet while the first media sheet is traveling through the duplex portion of the media path of the image forming apparatus helping to increase image apparatus throughput. | 08-25-2011 |
20120205855 | Media Retractor and Recycler System for Automatic Document Feeders and Duplexers and Method for Using Same - A media retraction and recycler system for use with image processing devices such as automatic document feeders and printers that concurrently supports two media sheets for duplex printing or scanning in a partial overlapping configuration in a variable nip pressure exit roll assembly allowing use of a media path that is shorter than the total media length of the two media sheets to facilitate an increased throughput during duplex scanning or printing operations. | 08-16-2012 |