System and method for operating a multitone imaging apparatus
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorRichard E. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multicolor imaging device capable of operating at higher than normal speeds when a full range of colors is not required. The imaging device includes four station groups each having a charge scorotron, a light source for exposing a photoconductive belt to a color signal, and a toner developer. When a color of a particular station is not required, the light source for that station is disabled and the charge scorotron of that station is enabled to allow a higher charging rate for the required colors, thereby allowing the belt to be propelled at a higher speed.
Claims20
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- a photoreceptor;
- a plurality of station groups, each station group including
- charge depositing means for depositing charge on the photoreceptor,
- exposing means for selectively exposing the photoreceptor to radiation;
- means for operating in one of
- a first mode for concurrently enabling the depositing means of each station group to deposit charge at a common polarity, enabling the exposing means in a one of the station groups, enabling the exposing means in another one of the station groups, and moving the photoreceptor at a first speed relative to the plurality of stations, and
- a second mode for concurrently enabling the depositing means of each station group to deposit charge at the common polarity, disabling the exposing means in the one of the station groups, enabling the exposing means in the other one of the station groups, and moving the photoreceptor at a speed higher than the first speed relative to the plurality of stations.
A method of operating an imaging apparatus having a photoreceptor, and a plurality of station groups, each station group including charge depositing means for depositing charge on the photoreceptor, and exposing means for selectively exposing the photoreceptor to radiation, the method comprising the step of:
- operating in one of
- a first mode for concurrently enabling the depositing means of each station group to deposit charge at a common polarity, enabling the exposing means in a one of the station groups, enabling the exposing means in another one of the station groups, and moving the photoreceptor at a first speed relative to the plurality of stations, and
- a second mode for concurrently enabling the depositing means of each station group to deposit charge at the common polarity, disabling the exposing means in the one of the station groups, enabling the exposing means in the other one of the station groups, and moving the photoreceptor at a speed higher than the first speed relative to the plurality of stations.
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- a photoreceptor;
- a plurality of station groups, each station group including
- charge depositing means for depositing charge on the photoreceptor,
- exposing means for selectively exposing the photoreceptor to radiation;
- means for operating in one of
- a first mode for concurrently enabling the depositing means of the one of the station groups to deposit charge of a first polarity at a first rate, enabling the exposing means in the one of the station groups, enabling the charging means of the other one of the station groups to deposit charge of the first polarity at a second rate, enabling the exposing means in the other one of the station groups, and moving the photoreceptor at a first speed relative to the plurality of stations, and
- a second mode for concurrently enabling the depositing means of the one of the station groups to deposit charge of the first polarity at substantially the first rate, disabling the exposing means in the one of the station groups, enabling the charging means of the other one of the station groups to deposit charge of the first polarity at substantially the second rate, enabling the exposing means in the other one of the station groups, and moving the photoreceptor at a speed higher than the first speed relative to the plurality of stations.
A method of operating an imaging apparatus having a photoreceptor, and a plurality of station groups, each station group including charge depositing means for depositing charge on the photoreceptor, and exposing means for selectively exposing the photoreceptor to radiation, the method comprising the step of:
- operating in one of
- a first mode for concurrently enabling the depositing means of a one of the station groups to deposit charge of a first polarity at a first rate, enabling the exposing means in the one of the station groups, enabling the charging means of another one of the station groups to deposit charge of the first polarity at a second rate, enabling the exposing means in the other one of the station groups, and moving the photoreceptor at a first speed relative to the plurality of stations, and
- a second mode for concurrently enabling the depositing means of the one of the station groups to deposit charge of the first polarity at substantially the first rate, disabling the exposing means in the one of the station groups, enabling the charging means of the other one of the station groups to deposit charge of the first polarity at substantially the second rate, enabling the exposing means in the other one of the station groups, and moving the photoreceptor at a speed higher than the first speed relative to the plurality of stations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.