Method and apparatus for a non-contact direct transfer imaging system
AssigneeAetas Technology Incorporated
InventorsBobo Wang, Taomo Mu, Jon-Shin Hu, Tan-Feng Tsai, Chou-Jiung Lin, Vincent Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging system that includes a photoreceptor belt capable of having an electrostatic latent image recorded thereon, a group of developing stations capable of developing a color image on the photoreceptor, and at least one charging means and at least one exposing means to prepare the photoreceptor for desired conditions, such as creating a cleaning patch to remove toner from a toner support member associated with one of the plurality of developing stations.
Claims13
An image system comprising:
- a photoreceptor capable of having an electrostatic latent image recorded thereon;
- and
- a plurality of developing stations capable of developing a color image to the photoreceptor, at least one of the plurality of developing stations having toner and being operably configured to apply a voltage between −700 volts to −900 volts to the toner;
- and
- at least one charging means and at least one exposing means to prepare the photoreceptor for a desired condition such that the toner is attracted away from the at least one of the plurality of developing stations, wherein the desired condition corresponds to preparing a portion of the photoreceptor to remove toner from one of the plurality of developing stations to substantially prevent the transfer of the toner from the one developing station to another portion of photoreceptor.
A method of preparing an imaging system to produce color images utilizing at least one charging unit, the method of comprising the steps of:
- creating a cleaning patch by charging a photoreceptor of the imaging system to a predetermined level;
- and
- cleaning a toner support member of the imaging system by developing toner onto the cleaning patch;
- and
- removing toner from the cleaning patch to a toner waste station associated with the imaging system.
A method of preparing an imaging system to produce color images using at least one charging unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) creating a cleaning patch by discharging a portion of a photoreceptor to a predetermined level;
- (b) imposing a latent image on the photoreceptor by discharging another portion of the photoreceptor;
- (c) cleaning a toner support member of the imaging system by developing toner onto the cleaning patch;
- and
- (d) removing toner from the cleaning patch to a toner waste station associated with the imaging system.
A method of preparing an imaging system to produce color images, the imaging system comprising at least two developing stations, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a first of the at least two developing stations for a desired condition by cleaning a toner support member at the first developing station;
- (b) developing toner onto a photoreceptor at a second of the at least two developing stations to create a first developed image;
- (c) passing the first developed image adjacent to the first developing station;
- (d) passing the first developed image to the next available charging station;
- (e) passing the first developed image to the next available exposure station;
- (f) passing the first developed image to a desired one of the at least two developing stations;
- (g) developing toner onto the photoreceptor at the desired developing station to create a subsequent developed image;
- and
- (h) transferring the subsequent developed image to a substrate.
A method of preparing an imaging system to produce color images, the imaging system comprising at least two developing stations, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) developing toner onto a photoreceptor at a first developing station to create a first developed image;
- (b) preparing a subsequent developing station located downstream from the first developing station for a desired condition by cleaning toner from a toner support member at the subsequent developing station;
- (c) passing the first developed image adjacent to the subsequent developing station;
- (d) passing the first developed image to the next available charging station;
- (e) passing the first developed image to the next available exposure station;
- (f) returning the first developed image to a desired one of the at least two developing stations;
- (g) developing toner onto the photoreceptor at the desired developing station to create a subsequent developed image;
- and
- (h) transferring the subsequent developed image to a substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.