Electrostatographic single-pass multiple station printer with register control

An electrostatographic single-pass multiple station printer for forming an image onto a web, which comprises:

• (i) a plurality of toner image-printing electrostatographic stations each having
• (ia) rotatable endless surface means onto which a toner image can be formed;
• (ib) means for line-wise forming an electrostatic toner image on each said rotatable endless surface means with a predetermined line distance;
• and
• (ic) means for transferring said electrostatic toner image onto a web;
• (ii) means for conveying said web along a web path in succession past said stations in synchronism with said rotatable endless surface means;
• and
• (iii) register control means for controlling operation of each of said stations in timed relationship thereby to obtain correct registering of the electrostatic toner image on said web;
• wherein said register control means comprises
• (iiia) encoder means driven by rotation of said endless surface means at one of said toner image-printing electrostatographic stations for producing pulses indicative of web displacement, and
• (iiib) delay means for initiating the operation of subsequent image-printing stations after a predetermined web displacement, as measured by said encoder means, has occurred, wherein said encoder means comprises an encoder sensor and electronic multiplier means for multiplying pulse frequency by a whole number factor, such that the web displacement that generates a single pulse at an output of said electronic multiplier means is smaller than the line distance.