US 6,188,861 B1Granted

Tandem tri-level xerographic apparatus and method for producing pictorial color images

AssigneeXerox Corporation

InventorsDelmer G. Parker, Michael M. Shahin

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Apparatus and method for creating quality pictorial color images include a charging device for uniformly charging a photoconductive member of a first tri-level xerographic module to a predetermined voltage level; using a controller and a ROS device for creating tri-level latent electrostatic images including CAD image areas and DAD image areas having different voltage levels respectively; developing the CAD image areas and the DAD image areas with yellow (Y) and a first black (K1) marking materials respectively to form a first composite color separation image of a desired final pictorial image; transferring the first composite color separation image onto an intermediate transfer member; similarly forming and developing a second composite color separation image on a second tri-level xerographic module using Magenta (M) and a second black (K2) marking material; transferring the second composite color separation image, in registration with the first composite color separation image, onto the intermediate transfer member such that yellow Y and the second black K2 are superimposable; similarly forming and developing a third composite color separation image on a third tri-level xerographic module using Cyan (C) and an optional color (X1); transferring the third composite color separation image in registration with the first and the second composite color separation images, onto the intermediate transfer member to form a desired final pictorial image including desired color superimpositions; and transferring the desired final pictorial image at a substrate transfer station onto a substrate for fusing.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method of creating quality pictorial color images in a single pass using tri-level xerographic modules in tandem, said method including the steps of:

uniformly charging a photoconductive member of a first tri-level xerographic module to a predetermined voltage level;
creating tri-level latent electrostatic images including CAD image areas and DAD image areas having different voltage levels respectively;
developing the CAD image areas and the DAD image areas with yellow (Y) and a first black (K1) marking materials respectively to form a first composite color separation image of a desired final pictorial image;
transferring the first composite color separation image onto an intermediate transfer member;
uniformly charging a photoconductive member of a second tri-level xerographic module to a predetermined voltage level;
creating tri-level latent electrostatic images including CAD image areas and DAD image areas having different voltage levels respectively;
developing the CAD image areas and the DAD image areas with Magenta (M) and a second black (K2), marking materials respectively to form a second composite color separation image of the desired final pictorial image;
transferring the second composite color separation image, in registration with the first composite color separation and such as to superimpose Y on K2 and M on K1, onto the intermediate transfer member;
uniformly charging a photoconductive member of a third tri-level xerographic module to a predetermined voltage level;
creating tri-level latent electrostatic images including CAD image areas and DAD image areas, having different voltage levels respectively;
developing the CAD image areas and the DAD image areas with Cyan (C) and an optional color (X1), marking materials respectively to form a third and final composite color separation of the desired final pictorial image;
forming a desired final pictorial image on the intermediate transfer member by transferring the third composite color separation image, in registration with the first and second composite color separation images, onto the intermediate transfer member;
and
transferring the desired final pictorial image onto a substrate for fusing.

11 more elements

A tandem xerographic apparatus for creating quality pictorial color images in a single pass, the tandem xerographic apparatus comprising:

(a) a first tri-level xerographic module including:
(i) a charging device for uniformly charging a photoconductive member thereof to a predetermined voltage level;
(ii) a controller and a ROS device for creating tri-level latent electrostatic images including CAD image areas and DAD image areas having different voltage levels respectively;
(iii) first and second development units for developing said CAD image areas and said DAD image areas with yellow (Y) and black (K1) marking materials respectively to form a first composite color separation image of a desired final pictorial image;
and
(iv) a transfer station for transferring said first composite color separation image onto an intermediate transfer member;
(b) a second tri-level xerographic module including:
(i) a charging device for uniformly charging a photoconductive member thereof to a predetermined voltage level;
(ii) a controller and a ROS device for creating tri-level latent electrostatic images including CAD image areas and DAD image areas having different voltage levels respectively;
(iii) first and second development units for developing said CAD image areas and said DAD image areas with Magenta (M) and black, (K2) marking materials respectively to form a second composite color separation image of the desired final pictorial image;and
(iv) a transfer station for transferring said second composite color separation image, in registration with said first composite color separation image, onto the intermediate transfer member;
(c) a third tri-level xerographic module including:
(i) a charging device for uniformly charging a photoconductive member thereof to a predetermined voltage level;
(ii) a controller and a ROS device for creating tri-level latent electrostatic images including CAD image areas and DAD image areas having different voltage levels respectively;
(iii) first and second development units for developing said CAD image areas and said DAD image areas with Cyan (C) and an optional color (X1), marking materials respectively to form a third composite color separation image of the desired final pictorial image;
and
(iv) a transfer station for transferring said third composite color separation image, in registration with said first and said second composite color separation images, onto said intermediate transfer member to complete the desired final pictorial image;
and
(d) a substrate transfer station for transferring the desired final pictorial image onto a substrate for fusing at a fusing station.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/518,548Filed 3 Mar 2000 · continuation in part
Priority: 30 Jun 1999
Granted: 13 Feb 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G03G 15/0184
Using more than one reusable electrographic recording member, e.g. one for every monocolour image: at least one recording member having plural…
G03G 2215/0106
Plural electrographic recording members: at least one recording member having plural associated developing units
G03G 2215/0119
Plural electrographic recording members: linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points
G03G 2215/0495
Arrangements for exposing and producing an image: plural charge levels of latent image produced, e.g. trilevel