Apparatus and method to control and calibrate deliberate speed mismatch in color IOTs

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling speed match between a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer member to prevent image degradation by creating a deliberate speed mismatch. It has been found that slight variations in speed match between a photoreceptor and transfer member will maintain acceptable image quality, however, should the relative velocity between the members change sign, unacceptable image error results. The method herein comprises slewing the velocity of a photoreceptive member over a range of speeds while monitoring the output control signal current of a drive motor. The resulting control signal current has a large oscillation at the velocity at which the speed of the photoreceptor matches that of the intermediate transfer member. A controller is then used to maintain the motor velocity at a speed slightly less than or slightly greater than the intermediate transfer member speed so as to prevent a change in sign of the relative velocity between the two moving surfaces.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.