System for determining development gap width in a xerographic development system using an AC field
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRoger W. Budnik, James M. Pacer, Scott L. Kauffman, Richard M. Maier, Michael G. Swales
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a xerographic development system in which an AC field is set up in a gap between a donor member and the photoreceptor to develop an electrostatic latent image, a series of tests are performed to ascertain that the width of the gap is within a suitable range. In test mode, various DC and AC biases associated with the field are systematically altered, and the reflectivities of resulting test images are read. Based on these reflectivity readings, it can be determined if the gap is too wide, such as to cause poor print quality, or too narrow, such as to cause arcing.
Claims7
In an electrostatographic development system wherein toner is conveyed from a donor member over a development gap to a charge receptor by an AC development field in the development gap, a method comprising the steps of:
- developing an image of a predetermined type with the AC field being set to default parameters, and reading a reflectivity of the developed image;
- in a first test, developing an image of the predetermined type with the AC field being set a different amplitude relative to the default parameters, and reading a reflectivity of the developed image, to yield a first test result;
- and
- determining, based on at least the first test result, whether a width of the development gap is within a predetermined range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.