Method and apparatus for supporting photoreceptive belt and copy paper to reduce transfer deletions
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorLloyd F. Bean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Transfer deletions are reduced in a xerographic copy machine by imparting a curvilinear shape to the copy paper as it passes through at least a portion of a transfer zone. In a first embodiment, a fixed shoe constrains movement of a photoreceptor belt thereover, while a second preferred arrangement uses a roller to impart the curvilinear shape to the paper. In still another arrangement, a baffle that feeds the copy paper to the transfer zone is oriented with an existing roller structure to shape the paper as desired, and the baffle may be movable to vary the shape as the paper moves into the transfer zone.
Claims25
In an electrophotographic printing machine having a photoreceptor belt passing through an inlet end of a transfer zone, and copy sheet transport means for supplying a copy sheet to the inlet end of the transfer zone, the improvement for reducing transfer deletions by reducing damage in the copy sheet at the transfer zone characterized by:
- a photoreceptor belt guide member located at the transfer zone to cause the photoreceptor belt to travel a curvilinear path as it moves through the transfer zone;
- and,
- sheet guide means associated with the copy sheet transport means operative in conjunction with the belt guide member to impart a curvilinear shape to the copy sheet entering the inlet end and passing through the transfer zone, the sheet guide means including a movable baffle member located upstream of the inlet end of the transfer zone for imparting the curvilinear shape to the copy sheet.
A method of operating an electrophotographic copy machine having a photoreceptor belt that travels along a predetermined work path, a paper baffle supplying a copy sheet, and a transfer zone defined along the work path having an input end that receives the copy sheet from the paper baffle for travel along the work path, the method comprising the steps of:
- feeding a first portion of the copy sheet from the paper baffle toward the photoreceptor belt upstream from the input end and along a first angle of incidence with the belt;
- orienting the photoreceptor belt and paper baffle by moving the paper baffle during the feeding step to a displacement position having a second angle of incidence with the photoreceptor belt to define a curvilinear path through at least a portion of the transfer zone;
- and
- tacking a leading edge of the copy sheet to the belt.
In an electrophotographic printing machine having a photoreceptor belt passing through an inlet end of a transfer zone, and copy sheet transport means for supplying copy sheets to the inlet end of the transfer zone, the improvement for reducing transfer deletions by reducing damage in the copy sheets at the transfer zone characterized by:
- a photoreceptor belt guide member located at the transfer zone to cause the photoreceptor belt to travel a curvilinear path as it moves through the transfer zone wherein the photoreceptor belt guide member comprises a stationary guide shoe over which the photoreceptor belt is constrained to travel during movement through the transfer zone;
- and,
- sheet guide means associated with the copy sheet transport means operative in conjunction with the belt guide member to impart a curvilinear shape to the copy sheets entering the inlet end and passing through the transfer zone.
A method of operating an electrophotographic copy machine having a photoreceptor belt that travels along a predetermined work path, a paper baffle supplying a copy sheet, and a transfer zone defined along the work path having an input end that receives the copy sheet from the paper baffle for travel along the work path and an outlet end where transfer of an image from the photoreceptor belt to the copy sheet has been completed, the method comprising the steps of:
- feeding a first portion of the copy sheet from the paper baffle toward the photoreceptor belt upstream from the input end and along a first angle of incidence with the belt;
- orienting the photoreceptor belt and paper baffle to define a fixed curvilinear path from the inlet end to the outlet end of the transfer zone;
- and
- tacking a leading edge of the copy sheet to the belt.
An apparatus for reducing image deletion problems associated with paper damage, the apparatus comprising:
- a photoreceptor belt that travels through a predetermined work path;
- a copy sheet baffle having an outlet disposed adjacent the work path;
- a transfer zone defined along the work path at a region downstream of the baffle outlet;
- and
- means for imparting a curvilinear shape to the copy sheet through at least a portion of the transfer zone, wherein the curvilinear imparting means includes a stationary guide shoe over which the belt passes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.