Methods and devices for spacing components of an electrophotographic printer
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsHoward G. Hooper, III, K. Trent Christensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrophotographic printer including a transfer roller having a first movable spacer for temporarily creating a gap between the transfer roller and a photo conductor.
Claims35
An electrophotographic printing system comprising:
- a photoconductive drum;
- a transfer roller;
- and
- a first spacer creating a gap between said photoconductive drum and said transfer roller wherein said gap is eliminated in response to rotation of said photoconductive drum or said transfer roller;
- wherein said first spacer comprises a removable insert disposed between said photoconductive drum and said transfer roller;
- wherein said removable insert comprises a frictional surfare in contact with said photoconductive drum whereby said removable insert is forced out from between said photoconductive drum and said transfer roller in said first position in response to rotation of either said photoconductive drum or said transfer roller;
- and
- wherein said removable insert is not attached to said any part of said printing system, but drops free when forced out from between said photoconductive drum and said transfer roller.
An apparatus comprising:
- a color laser printer carousel comprising a developing roller having a first movable spacer for temporarily creating a gap between said developing roller and a photoconductive drum, wherein said gap is created by selectively interposing said spacer between said developing roller and said photoconductive drum.
An apparatus comprising:
- a color laser printer having a photoconductive drum and an intermediate transfer unit;
- wherein a first movable spacer is disposed between said photoconductive drum and said intermediate transfer unit for temporarily creating a gap between said intermediate transfer unit and said photoconductive drum.
An apparatus comprising:
- a color laser printer having a primary transfer roller, a photoconductive drum, an intermediate transfer unit, and a secondary transfer roller;
- wherein a first movable spacer is disposed between said intermediate transfer unit and said secondary transfer roller for temporarily creating a gap between said intermediate transfer unit and said secondary transfer roller.
A method of operating a color laser printing comprising selectively interposing a movable spacer between a developing roller in a color laser printer carousel and a photoconductive drum to protect said developing roller and photoconductive drum from damage.
A method of operating a color laser printing comprising selectively interposing a movable spacer between an intermediate transfer unit and a photoconductive drum to protect said intermediate transfer unit and photoconductive drum from damage.
A method of operating a color laser printing comprising selectively interposing a movable spacer between an intermediate transfer unit for receiving a toner image from a photoconductive drum and a secondary transfer roller for transferring said toner image from said intermediate transfer unit to a print medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.