US 6,295,424 B1 · Electrostatographic image-forming apparatus and method

Abstract

Electrostatographic recording method and apparatus that includes a primary image-forming member (PIFM) which moves along a closed path at high-speed. The PIFM may be in the form of an endless belt, which has a row of image frame synchronizing indicia. The indicia are spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the PIFM. The indicia are not all uniformly spaced from one another so that an interframe area larger than other smaller interframe areas on the PIFM can exist. During a production run toner images are formed on the image frames by sensing the image frame synchronizing indicia. The larger interframe area is provided preferably at a splice or seam area to provide sufficient time for a change in a process element for which sufficient time is not available at a smaller interframe area. As an example, the process element may be a transfer roller which is switched in polarity at the larger interframe area to reduce toner contamination of the transfer roller due to presence of the seam or placement of toner at process control patches at such area. The endless belt may contain a single row of indicia that are used to synchronize two respective different series of image frame sizes.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An electrostatographic recording apparatus comprising:

a primary image forming member (PIFM) moving along a closed path, the PIFM having a row of image frame synchronizing indicia, the image frame synchronizing indicia being spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the PIFM, and the image frame synchronizing indicia not all being uniformly spaced from one another to provide one interframe area which is larger than any other interframe areas on the PIFM;
a recording device that is enabled to record a series of electrostatic images on the PIFM;
a development station that develops the electrostatic images;
a transfer device for transferring the developed images from the PIFM;
a sensor for detecting image frame synchronizing indicia;
and
a controller responsive to sensing of the image frame synchronizing indicia for synchronizing recording of the image frames by the recording means, the controller also being operative for controlling an operation at said larger interframe area for which sufficient time is not available at said any other interframe area.

4 more elements

An electrostatographic recording method comprising:

moving a primary image-forming member (PIFM) along a closed path, the PIFM having a row of image frame synchronizing indicia, the image frame synchronizing indicia being spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the PIFM, and the image frame synchronizing indicia not all being uniformly spaced from one another to provide an interframe area larger than any other interframe area on the PIFM;
recording a series of electrostatic images on the PIFM with interframe areas being between respective adjacent images;
developing the electrostatic images;
transferring the developed images from the PIFM;
sensing the image frame synchronizing indicia;
controlling, in response to sensing of the image frame synchronizing indicia, the recording of the series of image frames;
and
controlling an operation at said larger interframe area for which sufficient time is not available at said any other interframe area.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrostatographic image-forming apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Electrostatographic image-forming apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30