Apparatus and method for controlling development of developer material on a photoreceptive member

In a printing machine with a photoreceptor for developing an image with developer material, controllable printing machine components including respective setpoints for changing development of the photoreceptor with the developer material, and a control system communicating with selected ones of the controllable printing machine components, the control system detecting an amount of developer material developed in a selected area of the photoreceptor with the detected amount of developer material being represented by a first value, an improved said control system comprising:

• a replaceable cartridge, adapted for use with the printing machine, including,
• a container for storing a selected developer material different from a developer material previously in the printing machine, and
• a programmable memory:
• unit communicating with the control system and being programmed with a second value reflecting a desired amount of the selected developer material to be developed on the photoreceptor, said control system reading the second value and determining if a difference exists between the first and second values;
• when a difference exists between the first value and the second value, and when the difference is greater than a selected magnitude, adjusting the setpoint of one of the controllable printing machine components;
• and
• a cleaning apparatus for removing portions of the selected developer material from the photoreceptor, said cleaning apparatus including a cleaning bias, wherein said adjusting of the setpoint includes adjusting the cleaning bias.

A replaceable cartridge for a printing machine, the printing machine including a photoreceptor for developing an image with developer material including plural properties, controllable printing machine components including respective setpoints for changing development of the photoreceptor with the developer material, and a control system communicating with selected ones of the controllable printing machine components, the control system detecting an amount of developer material developed in a selected area of the photoreceptor with the detected amount of developer material being represented by a first value, said replaceable cartridge comprising:

• a container for storing a selected developer material different from a developer material previously in the printing machine, and
• a programmable memory unit communicating with the control system and being programmed with a second value reflecting a desired amount of the selected developer material to be developed on the photoreceptor, said control system reading the second value and determining if a difference exists between the first and second values;
• when a difference exists between the first value and the second value, and when the difference is greater than a selected magnitude, adjusting the setpoint of one of the controllable printing machine components;
• an apparatus for measuring one of the plural properties;
• and
• the control system includes a controller, said controller adjusting a magnitude of the second value to accommodate for a change in one of the plural properties.

A replaceable cartridge for a printing machine, the printing machine including a photoreceptor for developing an image with developer material, controllable printing machine components including respective setpoints for changing development of the photoreceptor with the developer material, and a control system communicating with selected ones of the controllable printing machine components, the control system detecting an amount of developer material developed in a selected area of the photoreceptor with the detected amount of developer material being represented by a first value, said replaceable cartridge comprising:

• a container for storing a selected developer material different from a developer material previously in the printing machine, and
• a programmable memory unit communicating with the control system and being programmed with a second value reflecting a desired amount of the selected developer material to be developed on the photoreceptor, said control system reading the second value and determining if a difference exists between the first and second values;
• when a difference exists between the first value and the second value, and when the difference is greater than a selected magnitude, adjusting the setpoint of one of the controllable printing machine components;
• and
• a cleaning apparatus for removing portions of the selected developer material from the photoreceptor, said cleaning apparatus including a cleaning bias, wherein said adjusting of the setpoint includes adjusting the cleaning bias.

A method of controlling a degree to which developer material, with plural properties, is developed on a photoreceptor of a printing machine, the printing machine further including controllable printing machine components including respective setpoints for changing development of the photoreceptor with the developer material, a control system communicating with selected ones of the controllable printing machine components, and a replaceable cartridge adapted for use with the printing machine, the replaceable cartridge including a container for storing a selected developer material different from a developer material previously in the printing machine and a programmable memory unit communicating with the control system comprising the steps of:

• detecting an amount of developer material developed in a selected area of the photoreceptor with the detected amount of developer material being represented by a first value;
• the programmable memory unit including a second value reflecting a desired amount of the selected developer material to be developed on the photoreceptor;
• reading the second value, with the control system and determining if a difference exists between the first and second values;
• when a difference exists between the first value and the second value, and when the difference is greater than a selected magnitude, adjusting the setpoint of one of the controllable printing machine components;
• measuring one of the plural properties;
• and
• adjusting a magnitude of the second value to accommodate for a change in one of the plural properties.

A method of controlling a degree to which developer material is developed on a photoreceptor of a printing machine, the printing machine including controllable printing machine components with respective setpoints for changing development of the photoreceptor with the developer material, a control system communicating with selected ones of the controllable printing machine components, and a replaceable cartridge adapted for use with the printing machine, the replaceable cartridge including a container for storing a selected developer material different from a developer material previously in the printing machine and a programmable memory unit communicating with the control system, wherein portions of the selected developer material are removed from the photoreceptor with a cleaning apparatus and the cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning bias, comprising the steps of:

• detecting an amount of developer material developed in a selected area of the photoreceptor with the detected amount of developer material being represented by a first value;
• the programmable memory unit including a second value reflecting a desired amount of the selected developer material to be developed on the photoreceptor;
• reading the second value, with the control system and determining if a difference exists between the first and second values;
• when a difference exists between the first value and the second value, and when the difference is greater than a selected magnitude, adjusting the setpoint of one of the controllable printing machine components;
• and
• adjusting the cleaning bias when it is determined, with said determining step, that a difference exceeding the selected magnitude exists.

In a printing machine with a photoreceptor for developing an image with developer material, controllable printing machine components including respective setpoints for changing development of the photoreceptor with the developer material, and a control system communicating with selected ones of the controllable printing machine components, the control system detecting an amount of developer material developed in a selected area of the photoreceptor with the detected amount of developer material being represented by a patch value, an improved said control system comprising:

• (a) a first replaceable cartridge, adapted for use with the printing machine, said first replaceable cartridge including,
• (1) a first container for storing a first selected developer material, and
• (2) a first programmable memory unit communicating with the control system and being programmed with a first reference value reflecting a desired amount of the first selected developer material to be developed on the photoreceptor, said control system reading the first reference value and determining if a difference exists between the first reference value and the patch value;
• (b) wherein the first reference value of said first replaceable cartridge is electronically coupled to the printing machine during a first time interval;
• (c) when a difference exists between the first reference value and the patch value, and when the difference is greater than a selected magnitude, adjusting the setpoint of one of the controllable printing machine components;
• (d) a second replaceable cartridge, adapted for use with the printing machine, said second replaceable cartridge including,
• (1) a second container for storing a second selected developer material, and
• (2) a second programmable memory unit communicating with the control system and being programmed with a second reference value reflecting a desired amount of the second selected developer material to be developed on the photoreceptor, said control system reading the second reference value and determining if a difference exists between the second reference value and the patch value;
• (e) wherein the second reference value of said second replaceable cartridge is electronically coupled to the printing machine during a second time interval;
• and
• (f) when a difference exists between the second reference value and the patch value, and when the difference is greater than a selected magnitude, adjusting the setpoint of one of the controllable printing machine components.