Full-width array sensing of two-dimensional residual mass structure to enable mitigation of specific defects

A xerographic print engine, comprising:

• a controller that receives an image signal representing an image to be printed;
• a photoconductive surface;
• a charging station that charges the photoconductive surface to a relatively high potential;
• an exposure station that receives image signals from the controller and records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface;
• a development station that deposits toner over the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface to form a toner image;
• a transfer station that transfers the toner image from the photoconductive surface to a recording medium;
• and
• a residual mass sensor that senses and outputs a two-dimensional residual mass structure signature of any residual mass remaining on the photoconductive surface useful to determine and quantify specific image transfer defects, the residual mass sensor being located adjacent the photoconductive surface downstream from the transfer station in a process direction and being capable of sensing a substantial portion of the photoconductive surface.

A xerographic print engine having an integrated defect analysis system, comprising:

• a controller that receives an image signal representing an image to be printed;
• a photoconductive surface;
• a charging station that charges the photoconductive surface to a relatively high potential;
• an exposure station that receives image signals from the controller and records an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive surface;
• a development station that deposits toner over the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface to form a toner image;
• a transfer station that transfers the toner image from the photoconductive surface to a recording medium;
• a cleaning station that cleans the photoreceptive surface;
• a full width array sensor located between the transfer station and the cleaning station that senses and outputs a two-dimensional residual mass structure of any residual mass remaining on the photoconductive surface;
• a signal processing station that analyzes the output from the full width array sensor and detects specific transfer defects based on the signature profile of the sensed two-dimensional residual mass structure;
• and
• a feedback control that adjusts at least one operating parameter of the xerographic print engine based on at least one of type and magnitude of transfer defect detected.