Image-forming device having a patterned roller and a method for providing traceability of printed documents
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsWilliam I. Herrmann, Bradley J. Anderson, Bruce L. Johnson, Leonard T. Schroath
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for an image-forming device having at least one patterned roller for affecting the amount of toner present on a print medium when the print medium is advanced through a paper path of the image-forming device and contacts the at least one patterned roller. The roller includes a purposeful pattern that is formed in an outer surface of the roller. The purposeful pattern is configured to form an identifying mark on a print medium as a result of the amount of toner present on the print medium.
Claims20
A roller for use in a paper path of an image-forming device, comprising:
- a cylindrical roller comprising an outer layer;
- and
- a purposeful pattern formed in an outer surface of the outer layer, the purposeful pattern configured to form an identifying mark on a print medium advancing along the paper path of the image-forming device.
An image-forming device having a paper path, comprising:
- at least one roller present in the paper path of the image-forming device, the at least one roller comprising a purposeful pattern, the purposeful pattern configured to form an identifying mark on a print medium advancing along the paper path and for affecting an amount of toner present on the print medium.
A method of producing an identifying mark on a print medium, comprising:
- providing an image-forming device comprising at least one roller having a purposeful pattern, the at least one roller present in a paper path, the purposeful pattern for affecting an amount of toner present on the print medium;
- advancing the print medium along the paper path;
- contacting the print medium with the at least one roller;
- and
- forming the identifying mark on the print medium, the identifying mark unique to the image-forming device, the identifying mark comprising a first amount of toner corresponding to a first portion of the purposeful pattern and a second amount of toner corresponding to a second portion of the purposeful pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.