Method and apparatus for using a conformable member in a frictional drive

For use in an electrostatographic machine, a transfer apparatus comprising:

• a primary image forming member (PIFM) roller, said PIFM supported on an axial first supporting shaft;
• a conformable intermediate transfer roller (ITR) in pressure engagement in a first nip with said PIFM, said ITR supported on an axial second supporting shaft;
• a transfer backup roller supported on an axial third supporting shaft in pressure engagement with said ITR to form a second nip therewith;
• a moving transport web for transporting a receiver member through said second nip, said moving transport web and receiver included in said second nip, said receiver adhered to said web, the ITR rotated by frictional contact with the transport web and receiver, the web contacting the backup roller thereby frictionally rotating the backup roller, said ITR contacting and frictionally rotating said PIFM;
• and
• wherein a first redundant gearing linkage connects for rotation said first supporting shaft and said second supporting shaft and a second redundant gearing linkage connects for rotation said second supporting shaft and said third supporting shaft, said first redundant gearing linkage including a first spur gear on said first supporting shaft and a second spur gear on said second supporting shaft defining a first gear ratio, said second redundant gearing linkage including said second spur gear and a third spur gear on said third supporting shaft, said second and third spur gears defining a second gear ratio, the first and second gear ratios having predetermined values, such that said predetermined values include values that provide a predetermined difference of speed between a peripheral speed of said PIFM and a speed of said moving transport web, said difference of speed having a value including zero and a value that is close to but not equal to a speed difference determined by natural speed ratios resulting from given respective engagements between said PIFM and said ITR and between said ITR and said transfer backup roller, said peripheral speed of said PIFM being determined where any distortions of said PIFM are negligible.

For use in an electrostatographic machine, a transfer apparatus comprising:

• a primary image forming member (PIFM) roller, said PIFM supported on an axial first supporting shaft;
• a conformable intermediate transfer roller (ITR) in pressure engagement in a first nip with said PIFM;
• a transfer backup roller supported on an axial second supporting shaft in pressure engagement with said ITR to form a second nip therewith;
• a moving transport web for transporting a receiver member through said second nip, said moving transport web and receiver included in said second nip, said receiver adhered to said web, the ITR rotated by frictional contact with the transport web and receiver, the web contacting the backup roller thereby frictionally rotating the backup roller, said ITR contacting and frictionally rotating said PIFM;
• and
• wherein a redundant gearing linkage connects for rotation said first supporting shaft and said second supporting shaft, said redundant gearing linkage including a first spur gear on said first supporting shaft and a second spur gear on said second supporting shaft defining a gear ratio, the gear ratio having a predetermined value, such predetermined value including a value that provides a predetermined difference of speed between a peripheral speed of said PIFM and a speed of said moving transport web, said difference of speed having a value including zero and a value that is close to but not equal to a speed difference determined by natural speed ratios resulting from given respective engagements between said PIFM and said ITR and between said ITR and said transfer backup roller, said peripheral speed of said PIFM being determined where any distortions of said PIFM are negligible.

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, a method of transferring a toner image from a primary image forming member, comprising the steps of:

• providing a pressure-generated nip between a primary image forming member (PIFM) roller having a first operational surface and a conformable intermediate transfer member (ITM) roller distorted in the pressure-generated nip, said ITM having a second operational surface;
• forming a toner image on said PIFM for electrostatic transfer of the toner image to said ITM;
• one of said ITM and said PIFM frictionally moving the other in a nonslip condition of engagement so as to move said toner image into said pressure-generated nip by rotating said PIFM;
• establishing an electric field in said pressure-generated nip to urge transfer of said toner image from said PIFM to said ITM;
• and
• during the step of transferring said toner image from said PIFM to said ITM, applying a lateral speed modifying force to said pressure-generated nip so as to establish a predetermined difference in peripheral speeds between a speed of a first portion of said first operational surface and a speed of a second portion of said second operational surface, the first and second portions being situated away from said nip and located where any distortions caused by said pressure-generated nip are negligible, said predetermined difference in peripheral speeds including zero.

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, a method of fusing a toner image to a receiver member, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a pressure-generated nip between a rotating heated fuser roller having a first operational surface and a counter-rotating pressure roller having a second operational surface;
• transporting a receiver member to said pressure-generated nip, said receiver having a surface holding an unfused toner image thereon;
• rotating one of said fuser roller and said pressure roller so as to frictionally rotate the other in a nonslip condition of engagement, thereby moving said receiver member into said pressure-generated nip such that said surface holding an unfused toner image faces said fuser roller;
• fusing said toner image to said receiver while frictionally moving said receiver member through said pressure-generated nip;
• and
• during the step of fusing said toner image, applying a lateral speed modifying force to said pressure-generated nip so as to establish a predetermined difference in peripheral speeds between a speed of a first portion of said first operational surface and a speed of a second portion of said second operational surface, the first and second portions being situated away from said pressure-generated nip and located where any distortions caused by the nip are negligible, said predetermined difference in peripheral speeds including zero.

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, a method of transferring a toner image from a toner image bearing member to a receiver member transported by a moving transport web, comprising the steps of:

• adhering a receiver member in a nonslip fashion to the moving transport web;
• establishing a pressure-generated nip between a rotating transfer backup roller (TBR) and a counter-rotating conformable toner image bearing member (TIBM) roller having an operational surface, the TIBM being distorted in the nip and provided with an axial supporting shaft, said nip including said transport web and said receiver;
• forming a toner image on said TIBM for electrostatic transfer of the toner image to said receiver;
• rotating said TIBM in a nonslip condition of frictional engagement with at least one of said web and said receiver so as to move said toner image into said pressure-generated nip, said TBR being frictionally rotated in a nonslip condition of engagement with said moving transport web, a drive being provided to the transport web to drive the receiver member in the nip;
• establishing an electric field in said pressure-generated nip to urge transfer of said toner image from said TIBM to said receiver;
• and
• while transferring said toner image from said TIBM to said receiver, applying a controlled speed modifying force to at least one of said shaft and said outer surface, so as to establish a predetermined difference in speeds between a speed of a peripheral portion of said operational surface and a speed of at least one of said web and said receiver adhered to the web, the peripheral portion of said operational surface being situated away from said nip and located where any distortions caused by the nip are negligible, said predetermined difference in speeds including zero.

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, a method of fusing a toner image to a receiver member, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a pressure-generated nip between a rotating heated fuser roller having a first operational surface and a counter-rotating pressure roller having a second operational surface, said fuser roller supported by a first supporting shaft and said pressure roller supported by a second supporting shaft;
• transporting a receiver member to said pressure-generated nip, said receiver having a surface holding an unfused toner image thereon;
• rotating one of said fuser roller and said pressure roller so as to frictionally rotate the other in a nonslip condition of engagement, thereby moving said receiver member into said pressure-generated nip such that said surface holding an unfused toner image faces said fuser roller;
• fusing said toner image to said receiver by frictionally moving said receiver member through said pressure-generated nip;
• and
• during the step of fusing said toner image, applying a lateral speed modifying force to at least one of said first and second operational surfaces and said first and second supporting shafts, so as to establish a predetermined difference in peripheral speeds between a speed of a first portion of said first operational surface and a speed of a second portion of said second operational surface, the first and second portions being situated away from said pressure-generated nip and located where any distortions caused by the nip are negligible, said predetermined difference in peripheral speeds including zero.

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus, a method of transferring a toner image from a toner image bearing member to a receiver member transported by a moving transport web, comprising the steps of:

• adhering a receiver member in a nonslip fashion to the moving transport web;
• establishing a pressure-generated nip between a rotating transfer backup roller (TBR) supported by an axial first supporting shaft and a counter-rotating, conformable, toner image bearing member (TIBM) roller having an operational surface, said TIBM being distorted in the nip and provided with an axial second supporting shaft, said nip including said transport web and said receiver;
• forming a toner image on said TIBM for electrostatic transfer of the toner image to said receiver;
• rotating said TIBM in a nonslip condition of frictional engagement with at least one of said web and said receiver so as to move said toner image into said pressure-generated nip, said TBR being frictionally rotated in a nonslip condition of engagement with said moving transport web, a drive being provided to the transport web to drive the receiver member in the nip;
• establishing an electric field in said pressure-generated nip to urge transfer of said toner image from said TIBM to said receiver;
• and
• while transferring said toner image from said TIBM to said receiver, applying a lateral speed modifying force to said nip by a redundant gearing linkage between said TIBM and said TBR, said redundant gearing linkage comprising spur gears having a predetermined gear ratio, said spur gears secured coaxially on said first and second supporting shafts, said predetermined gear ratio establishing a predetermined difference in speeds between a speed of a peripheral portion of said operational surface and a speed of at least one of said web and said receiver adhered to the web, the peripheral portion of said operational surface being situated away from said nip and located where any distortions caused by the nip are negligible, said predetermined difference in speeds including zero.

In an electrostatographic multicolor reproduction apparatus, an apparatus for transferring a plurality of toner images in register to a receiver member, comprising:

• a plurality of image forming modules, each module respectively including a rotating generally cylindrical member having a conformable layer upon which toner images are formed, and another rotating member, said generally cylindrical member engaged in a transfer nip with said another rotating member in each module;
• a transport device for transporting a receiver member serially into a respective transfer nip with each of said generally cylindrical members to transfer a respective toner image established on each generally cylindrical member to said receiver member, the generally cylindrical member of each module deforming in response to pressure in said respective transfer nip and being in a substantially nonslip condition of engagement with the receiver member in said respective nip;
• and
• a speed modifying device for applying a force to said generally cylindrical member of each module to control to a predetermined value an overdrive or an underdrive of the generally cylindrical member of each module, said predetermined value including zero.