Zero Leading and Trailing Margin Printing Method and an Electrophotographic Imaging Apparatus for Performing Same

A method for reproducing an image on a media sheet corresponding to an original image by an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

• determining the dimensions of an image area containing the image to reproduced and a leading margin and trailing margin of the media sheet;
• driving the media sheet along a feed path of the electrophotographic imaging apparatus;
• determining an arrival of a leading edge of the media sheet at a media sensor of the electrophotographic imaging apparatus;
• determining an arrival of a trailing edge of the media sheet at the media sensor;
• setting an transfer roll of the electrophotographic imaging apparatus at a first transfer voltage based on a first predetermined criterion;
• transferring a toner image from photoconductive drum of the electrophotographic imaging apparatus to the media sheet at a transfer nip formed between the photoconductive drum and the transfer roll;
• and
• setting the transfer roll at a second transfer voltage based on a second predetermined criterion.

A method for reproducing an original image on a media sheet by an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

• determining and analyzing dimensions of the original image, an image area containing an image to be reproduced and a border of the media sheet, the border having a leading margin, a trailing margin, a left margin and a right margin in relation to a process direction;
• driving the media sheet along a feed path in the process direction;
• determining an arrival of a leading edge of the media sheet at a media sensor of the electrophotographic imaging apparatus;
• simultaneously beginning a process to determine the arrival of a trailing edge of the media sheet at the media sensor and initiating a first timer on the arrival of the leading edge at the media sensor;
• determining whether a first count of the first timer exceeds a first time period, the first time period being a time period required for the passage of the leading edge of the media sheet from the media sensor to a transfer nip and for the passage of the leading margin following the leading edge of the media sheet through the transfer nip, the transfer nip being formed between an photoconductive drum and an transfer roll of the electrophotographic imaging apparatus;
• setting the transfer roll at a first transfer voltage when the first count exceeds the first time period;
• transferring at the transfer nip the toner image from the photoconductive drum to the image area of media sheet in order to reproduce the original image on the media sheet;
• determining whether a second count of the first timer exceeds the sum of the first time period and a second time period, the second time period being a time period required for the passage of the image area through the transfer nip while the toner image is being transferred to the media sheet;
• and
• setting the transfer roll at a second transfer voltage when the second count exceeds the summation of the first time period and the second time period.