Control system for test patch area exposure in a printing machine

Abstract

There is provided a method for use with a printing machine having a movable imaging member and a projecting system for modulating a beam and projecting an image into the movable imaging member. The printing machine further includes a developer for application of developer material to the image projected onto the movable imaging member for transfer of the image to a print media sheet. The method, which is intended for use in controlling exposure of a test patch on the movable imaging member includes the steps of: a) providing a time-keeping device with the time-keeping device including a variable value which is either incrementable or decrementable; b) detecting a signal indicating that the movable imaging member is positioned relative to the beam in a selected orientation, wherein the movable imaging member passes by the beam at a selected speed; c) providing a reference value with the reference value varying as a function of the selected speed; d) in response to the detecting of (b), modulating the beam, relative to the movable imaging member, so as to expose a portion for the test patch; e) concurrent with the modulating of (d), incrementing or decrementing the variable value of the time keeping device; and f) repeating said modulating of (d) until the value of the variable value is about equal to the reference value and the test patch is exposed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.