# US 11,150,572 B2 · Imaging and printing system

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- Number: US 11,150,572 B2
- Document ID: US11150572B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/523,184
- Filed: 2015-01-22
- Published: 2017-11-16
- Granted: 2021-10-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-22
- Assignees: HP Indigo B.V.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
- Inventors: Ron Emanueli; Michael Plotkin; Haim Livne; Napoleon J. Leoni
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11150572B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/043: with means for controlling illumination or exposure (G03G15/041 takes precedence)
- G02B 26/12: using multifaceted mirrors
- G02B 27/0031: {for scanning purposes}
- G03G 15/0409: {Details of projection optics (for projection printing apparatus G03B27/522)}
- G03G 15/104: {Preparing, mixing, transporting or dispensing developer}
- G03G 21/20: Humidity or temperature control {also ozone evacuation; Internal apparatus environment control}
- G03G 15/11: Removing excess liquid developer, e.g. by heat
- G03G 2215/0626: liquid type (at developing position)
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

According to one example, there is provided an imaging system that comprises a housing, a rotatable polygon comprising multiple mirrored facets located in the housing, a laser to generate a laser beam to shine onto the polygon mirror and to reflect onto a target, and wherein, in use, the density of gas within the housing is such that turbulence-related optical distortion within the housing is not greater than a predetermined limit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging system, comprising:
a housing;
a rotatable polygon comprising multiple mirrored facets located in the housing;
a laser to generate a laser beam to shine onto the polygon mirror and to reflect onto a target;
wherein, in use, the density of gas within the housing is such that turbulence-related optical distortion within the housing is not greater than a predetermined limit,
wherein the housing is hermetic or substantially hermetic, and wherein the imaging system further comprises:
a pump connected to the housing through a conduit; and
a pump controller to control the pump to remove air from the housing to reduce the air pressure within the housing to a predetermined level.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the air pressure is reduced to a level such that turbulence-related optical distortion within the housing does not adversely affect a laser beam passing through the turbulence.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the pump controller controls the pump to reduce the air pressure within the housing to not below about 0.1 atmospheres.

### Claim 4

An electrostatic printing system, comprising:
an imaging system housing;
a rotatable polygon comprising multiple mirrored facets located in the housing;
a laser to generate a laser beam to shine onto the polygon mirror and to reflect onto a photoconductor member;
wherein the density of gas within the housing is such that, when the mirror is rotating at high-speed, turbulence-related optical distortion within the housing does not adversely affect the laser beam, and
wherein the housing is hermetic to a high degree, and the printing system further comprises:
a pump in fluid communication with gas within the housing; and
a pump controller to control the pump to reduce the pressure within the housing to within a predetermined range.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The printing system of claim 4, wherein the pump controller is to control the pump to reduce the pressure within the housing to a pressure between 0.1 and 0.2 atmospheres.

### Claim 6

An electrostatic printing system, comprising:
an imaging system housing;
a rotatable polygon comprising multiple mirrored facets located in the housing;
a laser to generate a laser beam to shine onto the polygon mirror and to reflect onto a photoconductor member;
wherein the density of gas within the housing is such that, when the mirror is rotating at high-speed, turbulence-related optical distortion within the housing does not adversely affect the laser beam, and
wherein the housing is hermetic and is filled with a lighter than air gas or gaseous mix.

### Claim 7

An imaging system, comprising:
a sealed housing;
a rotatable polygon mirror comprising multiple mirrored facets located in the housing;
a portion of the housing transparent to a laser;
a laser to generate a laser beam to shine through the transparent portion of the housing onto the polygon mirror and to be scanned by the polygon mirror over a target;
wherein, in use, a density of gas within the housing is reduced below atmospheric pressure to reduce turbulence-related optical distortion within the housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The imaging system of claim 7, further comprising an air bearing supporting rotation of the polygon mirror in the sealed housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The imaging system of claim 7, further comprising:
a pump to remove gas from within the housing;
a pressure sensor in the housing; and
a pump controller to receive output from the pressure sensor and control operation of the pump based on the output of the pressure sensor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the pump controller to maintain pressure in the sealed housing between 0.1 and 0.2 atmospheres based on output from the pressure sensor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The imaging system of claim 7, wherein a gas within the sealed housing is a lighter-than-air gas to provide the density reduced to below atmospheric pressure.