Systems and methods for reducing image registration errors

A image processing apparatus that includes tandem print engines for forming an image on an image receiving substrate, comprising:

• a first print engine comprising a first photoreceptor including a first photoreceptor belt having a first period of revolution;
• a second print engine downstream from the first print engine, the second print engine comprising a second photoreceptor including a second photoreceptor belt having a second period of revolution and a plurality of imagers positioned along a process direction of the second photoreceptor, each of the imagers including an image source for exposing the second photoreceptor belt;
• and
• a synchronization controller for (i) controlling the belt velocity of the second photoreceptor belt such that the second period of revolution of the second photoreceptor belt substantially matches the first period of revolution of the first photoreceptor belt during the print run, and (ii) controlling the exposure velocities of the image sources on the second photoreceptor belt so as to maintain a substantially constant ratio between the velocity of the second photoreceptor belt and the exposure velocities during the print run.

An image processing method for forming an image on an image receiving substrate using an image processing apparatus comprising a first print engine including a first photoreceptor belt having a first period of revolution, and a second print engine arranged in tandem with the first print engine, the second print engine including a second photoreceptor belt having a second period of revolution, the method comprising:

• measuring the first period of revolution of the first photoreceptor belt;
• measuring the second period of revolution of the second photoreceptor belt;
• matching the first period of revolution and the second period of revolution during a print run;
• forming a first image on the image receiving substrate at the first print engine, the first image having a first image registration error;
• and
• forming a second image on the image receiving substrate at the second print engine, the second image having a second image registration error;
• wherein the first image registration error substantially equals the second image registration error.

An image processing method for forming an image on an image receiving substrate using an image processing apparatus comprising a first print engine including a first photoreceptor belt having a first period of revolution, and a second print engine arranged in tandem with the first print engine and including a second photoreceptor belt having a second period of revolution and a plurality of imagers that form a color image on the second photoreceptor belt, the method comprising:

• maintaining the first period of revolution of the first photoreceptor belt substantially equal to the second period of revolution of the second photoreceptor belt during a print run;
• maintaining a substantially constant ratio between the velocity of the second photoreceptor belt and an exposure velocity of the plurality of imagers during the print run;
• printing a first color image on the image receiving substrate at the first print engine;
• and
• printing a second color image on the image receiving substrate at the second print engine.