Method and apparatus for sensing and accomodating different thickness paper stocks in an electrostatographic machine
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJohn W. May, Donald S. Rimai, Christopher B. Liston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A recording apparatus includes a toner image bearing member and a transfer backing member that define a transfer nip. Pressure is applied in the transfer nip to a receiver member that is in engagement with the toner image bearing member for transfer of a toner image on the toner image bearing member to the receiver member. A sensor senses a parameter related to thickness of the receiver member prior to movement of the receiver member into the nip. An adjustment device is responsive to sensing of the parameter and adjusts nip spacing between the toner image bearing member and the transfer backing member.
Claims17
An image recording apparatus comprising:
- a toner image bearing member the toner image bearing member having a compliant layer that has a Young's modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 50 MPa and the laver is at least 1 mm in thickness;
- a transfer backing member that applies pressure to a receiver member that is in engagement with the toner image bearing member in a transfer nip for transfer of a toner image on the toner image bearing member to the receiver member;
- a movable web is located in the nip and transporting the receiver member through the nip, the transfer backing member engagng the web and applying pressure to the web when the receiver member is in the nip;
- a device for sensing a parameter related to thickness of the receiver member prior to movement of the receiver member into the nip;
- and
- an adjustment device responsive to sensing of the parameter for adjusting nip spacing between the toner image bearing member and the transfer backing member so as to facilitate entrance of the receiver member into the transfer nip and to eliminate or reduce impact associated with the receiver member entering the transfer nip.
An electrostatographic recording method comprising:
- forming a toner image on a toner image bearing member, the toner image bearing member having a compliant layer that has a Young's modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 10 MPa and the layer is at least 1 mm in thickness;
- moving a receiver member into engagement with the toner image bearing member;
- transferring the toner image to the receiver member in a nip formed in a space between the toner image bearing member and a transfer backing member;
- wherein a movable web is located in the nip and transports the receiver member through the nip and the transfer backing member engages the web and applies pressure to the web when the receiver member is in the nip;
- sensing a parameter related to the thickness of the receiver member prior to movement of the receiver member into the nip;
- and
- automatically adjusting, in response to sensing of the parameter, a spacing in the nip to facilitate entrance of the receiver member into the nip and to eliminate or reduce impacts associated with the receiver member entering the nip.
An electrostatographic recording method comprising:
- forming a toner image on a toner image bearing member, the toner image bearing member having a compliant layer that has a Young's modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 50 MPa and the layer is at least 1 mm in thickness;
- moving a receiver member into engagement with the toner image bearing member;
- transferring the toner image to the receiver member in a nip formed in a space between the toner image bearing member and a transfer backing member;
- sensing a parameter related to the thickness of the receiver member prior to movement of the receiver member into the nip;
- and
- automatically adjusting, in response to sensing of the parameter, a spacing in the nip, and wherein the adjustment of the spacing of the nip is made during an interframe period and to facilitate the entrance of the receiver member into the transfer nip and to eliminate or reduce impact associated with the receiver member entering the transfer nip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.