US 2014/0270829 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING BIAS TRANSFER ROLL POSITIONS USING RESISTANCE DETECTION

Abstract

A system and method is provided for determining the location of one or more biased transfer rolls relative to associated photoreceptors in a printer. The one or more biased transfer rolls can be moved into contact with an intermediate transfer surface bringing the surface into contact with associated photoreceptors to form a closed biased transfer roll image transfer nip for transferring an image from the photoreceptor to the intermediate transfer surface. The open or closed condition of the biased transfer roll image transfer nip is determined by applying a constant current to the biased transfer roll and evaluating a voltage at the biased transfer roll. The open or closed condition of different image transfer nips can be determined in a similar manner. A plurality of biased transfer rolls can be ganged together for simultaneous movement with respect to associated photoreceptors to form a plurality of image transfer nips, the open and closed condition which can also be determined.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of determining the location of a biased transfer roll in a printer having an image transfer nip formed by an intermediate transfer surface disposed between a biased transfer roll movable relative to an associated photoreceptor, the method comprising:

connecting a power supply operating in constant current mode to the biased transfer roll;
measuring a voltage at the biased transfer roll;
and
a controller determining the image transfer nip being in an open condition or a closed condition from the voltage measured at the biased transfer roll.

1 more element

A printer comprising:

a marking engine including:
a photoreceptor having an outer surface, and
a biased transfer roll having an outer surface;
an intermediate transfer surface disposed between the photoreceptor outer surface and the biased transfer roll outer surface;
a movable linkage operatively connected to the biased transfer roll and configured to move the biased transfer roll outer surface into contact with the intermediate transfer surface and the intermediate transfer surface into contact with the photoreceptor outer surface forming an image transfer nip in a closed condition, and the moveable linkage being configured to move the biased transfer roll outer surface out of contact with the intermediate transfer surface forming an image transfer nip in an open condition;
a power supply connected to the biased transfer roll for applying a constant current to the biased transfer roll;
a voltage detector connected to the biased transfer roll for measuring a voltage at the biased transfer roll;
and
a controller connected to the voltage detector and configured to evaluate the voltage at the biased transfer roll and determine the image transfer nip being in the open condition or the closed condition.

6 more elements

A printer subsystem comprising:

a marking engine including:
a photoreceptor having an outer surface, and
a biased transfer roll having an outer surface;
an intermediate transfer surface disposed between the photoreceptor outer surface and the biased transfer roll outer surface;
a movable linkage operatively connected to the biased transfer roll and configured to move the biased transfer roll outer surface into contact with the intermediate transfer surface and the intermediate transfer surface into contact with the photoreceptor outer surface forming an image transfer nip in a closed condition, and the moveable linkage being configured to move the biased transfer roll outer surface out of contact with the intermediate transfer surface forming an image transfer nip in an open condition;
a power supply connected to the biased transfer roll for applying a constant current to the biased transfer roll;
a voltage detector connected to the biased transfer roll for measuring a voltage at the biased transfer roll;
and
a controller connected to the voltage detector and configured to evaluate the voltage at the biased transfer roll and determine the image transfer nip being in the open condition or the closed condition.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for detecting bias transfer roll positions using resistance detection

Life of this patent

System and method for detecting bias transfer roll positions using resistance detection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20